Gypsies and other Travellers have been, and will continue to be, a feature of English life for many centuries. They make up a very small minority within the wider population, it is estimates between 200,000 individuals. Many live in caravans or other vehicles and follow a lifestyle which is nomadic or semi-nomadic, involving travel during at least a part of the year.

As many as one third of Gypsy Travellers and the majority of other Travellers have no safe, legal and secure stopping place.

According to Government figures, at any one time there are about 3,500 Gypsy/Traveller caravans on unauthorised encampments in England.

It is estimated that 90% of their traditional stopping places, such as green lanes, have been blocked off or in some other way made inaccessible in the last 20 years.

They will continue to travel through the foreseeable future.

Leicestershire County Council’s Equality and Diversity Strategy 2008 – 2010

Promoting Respect and Fairness includes

The Vision for Leicestershire which states:

Leicestershire is cohesive and inclusive
- Social justice and mutual respect is promoted through all our services and in our employment practices
- The needs of all sections of the community are understood and all residents can access essential services
- Levels of hate incidents are reduced
Equality of access to life opportunities
- No individual experiences disadvantage because of their race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief
- People have equality of access to life opportunities, employment, learning and services that meet individual needs

More information on the Multi Agency Travellers Unit

Page Last Updated: 15 October 2010