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27 November 2014

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You are in: Suffolk > Community > Features > Fresh support for travellers

Betty Lee

Betty has lived on the site for 14 years

Fresh support for travellers

Gypsies and travellers in Suffolk are being encouraged to report incidents of racism to a new centre in Ipswich.

Based at the West Meadows Gypsy and Traveller site, trained staff will listen to reports of racism or discrimination and identify the organisations who can provide help.

The initiative follows research which shows that many racist incidents go unreported, and therefore cannot be clamped down on.

"Research shows that for every racist incident that's reported, 16 go unreported," said Councillor Joanna Spicer, Suffolk County Council's portfolio holder for public protection.

West Meadows Gypsy and Traveller site, Ipswich

The West Meadows site

"This is something that's unacceptable, and which Suffolk County Council is committed to changing."

Betty Lee has lived on the site for 14 years and, having experienced discrimination, is pleased the centre has been introduced: "I do believe that this is going to do a lot of good," she says.

"It's lovely to see that people are taking an interest because sometimes it's very frightening for someone like me, who has grandchildren, to know what is going to happen in the future.

"We're all God's children, whether we're black, white or whoever we are. The Lord says in his words 'little children, love each other as I love you'. But I find that isn't the case."

Around 100 people live on the West Meadows site, on the west side of Ipswich near the A14. Similar reporting centres have already been set up in 14 Citizens Advice Bureaus across Suffolk.

Betty hopes actions such as this will lead to a reduction in the number of discriminatory incidents towards travellers: "There's been a lot of lies and letters wrote to the internet - no one wants the gypsies," she adds.

"I get up early some mornings and pick the litter up and see people passing - who've got hatred against the gypsies. They get a carrier bag of rubbish and empty it out at the gate."

Councillor Spicer is keen to stress the importance of reporting incidents, and hopes the new centre will help overcome some of the fears which exist: "I know that it can be difficult to come forward and report a racist incident, or any form of harassment," she says.

"By opening this centre at West Meadows, we hope that we can build the trust of the gypsy and traveller community, and encourage them to help us stamp our racism in the county."

Tune in to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Suffolk's weekly programme for travellers. 'Rokker Radio' is broadcast every Sunday between 7pm and 9pm. More information can be found using the link on the right >>

last updated: 11/04/2008 at 12:42
created: 17/05/2007

Have Your Say

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Helen
@James, Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are a Race under the Race Relations Act and it will stand up in court.

rhys
aaron i think you are completely wrong we have to pay for those things through taxes which you dont pay so i feel if you want these services contribute to your country.

Daisy
Im a traveller and i know ful fact that traveles are not al the same you get some good some bad just like you stop treating us al the same its alrite 4 u lot to cal us pikeys but when we say back were in the wrong.get ur facts straight before u judge us.

aaron
people who live in house have there rubbish collected every week there letter posted throw there front door but if your on the road you dont get that benifit so what are they supposed to do with there rubbish,yes i am half a traveller and im prowed of it,the only thing i can say if the every day person say half the stuff about the coloured people as they do about gypsys they would be classed as raciest and taken to court ,why can people leave the traveller alone the only diffrence is that they choce to live there lives in caravans and belive me there a lot more frendly towards each other than your next door nabour or are you just jelous of there flash moters and mobile homes

thomas
Why do some people think Gypsies are hard done by,they bring all the trouble on themselves,who do they think they are,when they just park where they like and when they leave the place looks like a rubbish dump,the caller callen[the voice]says they are a soft target,well wake up callen,we are the soft target who have to pay to clear up their mess always,there was an article on Anglia news last week about people that park in disabled bays in supermarkets who are not disabled,the aproached two young men who had done just that,they received so much abuse from them and their last words before they went off were-we are gypsies and we can park where we like now eff off,so who do you think are the ignorent nimbys now.

CALLEN [the Voice]
It sickens me the way ignorent nimbys love to dump on a soft target like gypsies. if the local councils had provided adequate sites as directed by the government years ago we might not have such discrimination against equal citizens who choose a different lifestyle to house dwellers. if they were provided with decent amenities that we take for granted like running water, electricity, refuse collection etc I'm sure they would pay fair rates and take pride in their environment..have they been afforded that chance? CALLEN [the Voice]

James
Are travellers a 'race'. Says who? I don't think this strange notion would stand up in a court of law.

Rick
Another amazing example of how the groups which get away with theft, trouble making and sponging are treated with kidd gloves when normal hardworking individuals get no response when the shoe is on the other foot. Betty might be decent enough and I wish her well but large proportion of gypsys are not. They decide to live outside the community but still want the benefits. Wheres the department that will deal with white english people getting a fair deal. If you have a problem with anyone of a different colour, religion etc, fiarness does'nt apply.

You are in: Suffolk > Community > Features > Fresh support for travellers

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