Gypsy fear is 'higher than reality'

Jonathan Kelly • Published 10 Aug 2009 16:00 Comments 1 Comment

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POLICE have warned residents to expect more gypsy incursions this summer - but to show a little tolerance and not fear the worst.

Ch Insp Denise Blackburn, Wokingham borough police commander, said that misunderstanding of gypsy travellers was rife thanks to national media coverage and that people's fears are out of all proportion to the real problems. She said there had been no forced ejection of gypsies needed in the borough in recent memory, that groups passing through the borough in the past year had virtually all cleared up after themselves, and that some landowners give temporary permission for gypsies to use their land.

She said: "Residents need to realise that gypsies passing through is normal now, right through until the end of September. We're asking people to show a little tolerance.

"If residents have genuine concerns or fears about something that's going on, not just that a van has pulled up, then of course they should contact us and we would act on that."

She said hundreds of people with gypsy roots had now settled in the borough, travelling only in the summer often to family occasions and celebrations.

Most of the recent incursions have been families passing through the borough from further afield.

Others come looking for casual, seasonal work - which spikes in summer.

Insp Laura Macinnes, head of community safety, said: "The fear is much higher than the reality. There are a lot of misconceptions about them."

Gypsy journalist Jake Bowers visited the borough at the end of last month to discuss the prejudice gypsies face because of the irresponsibility of just a minority of travellers.

The police asked people with genuine concerns to call 08458 505 505.

This article appeared in Villager 06 Aug 09

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xrantx
1 post
Jul 6, 12:08
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It's nice to hear that some of them are clearing up after themselves, but after having walked across our local park on Friday the 2nd of July past some 20 to 30 odd caravans that had entered the park after the chain was cut off of the gate to gain access, I had the pleasure of walking past lots of toilet paper all covered in shit as I walked down the ally way to cross the railway bridge, not a pretty site! and they had only been there for a day.

After talking later to another local person, he also mentioned that they were using the far end of the playing field as a toilet.

Children play in this park, people walk their dogs and football matches are played here as well, it may not be as easy as living in a house, but don't they have portable toilets or at least a spade to dig a hole and bury it ?... I'm not impressed!.

I assume that they were moved on, they moved around the corner actually, so I can only hope that they treat that place with a little more respect while they are there, I can't help but wonder how they would feel if we invaded one of their sites and we started shiting on it!.

It's unfortunate that some of them can give the rest of them a bad name.

Prejudice ?, no, I would have been just as disgusted if a group of local kids had set up some tents in the park and had used the park as a toilet.

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