People in Prison: Gypsies, Romany and Travellers A findings paper by HMCIP published 11/03/14 Even on the lowest estimates (which are accepted to be underestimates) it is clear that prisoners of Gypsy, Romany and Traveller backgrounds are significantly overrepresented in the prison population. Our survey findings suggest that the proportion might be as high as 5% (the same proportion as women prisoners) and much higher than this in some establishments, particularly those holding children. The reasons for this over representation lie outside the prison service and more needs to be done to understand and address this. The high numbers of children and young people describing themselves as Gypsy, Romany or Traveller in STCs, which hold some of the most vulnerable and challenging young people in custody, is worthy of further exploration. Prisons and youth custody monitoring systems need to be able to identify prisoners from Gypsy, Romany or Traveller backgrounds in order to address their needs relating to safety, behaviour, education and resettlement. Our findings indicate that the number of Gypsy, Romany and Traveller prisoners continues to be underestimated within the custodial estate. Furthermore the distinct needs of this group are often not recognised and go unsupported. Clarifying the needs of the 5% of Gypsy, Romany and Traveller prisoners in our survey who did not understand spoken English is an immediate concern, as these individuals access to services could be severely limited. Our surveys support assertions in other literature that the Gypsy, Romany and Traveller group are experiencing poorer outcomes across a range of areas. Most concerning are the negative perceptions of their own safety in prison and the levels of victimisation they report, both priority areas where action is needed. Prisoners who consider themselves to be Gypsy, Romany or Traveller are also more likely to report problems in areas of health, including mental health, and substance misuse. However, they consistently state they are less likely to receive support in these, and other, areas. We have identified good practice in some establishments but in others this is hampered by the lack of knowledge about these prisoners. We use the term Gypsy/Romany/Traveller in our prisoner surveys so individuals can identify themselves, if they should so wish, as belonging to a range of communities with distinct ethnicities, languages and traditions. Defining individual groups within this term is complex, as their ethnicity may be established in a variety of ways. The group history, lifestyle or occupation of some, but not all, of these groups may involve or may have involved a nomadic lifestyle. We intend this term to include multiple communities who have historically faced exclusion from mainstream services and social institutions in their countries of settlement. The term Gypsy stems from medieval times and refers to Romany groups from Europe that had arrived and settled in England, albeit at the time living nomadically and heavily persecuted. These communities have remained, becoming established and, up until recently, maintaining a key societal role in seasonal work, agriculture and metal working3. Romany is an anglicised word referring to groups and communities who speak versions of the Romani language. More commonly known as Roma4, these groups may no longer speak Romani but nevertheless retain identities distinct from the communities of the country in which they are settled. The term Travellers refers to an equally wide range of communities including Scottish, Welsh and Irish Travellers who have, at different points in the last few hundred years, taken up nomadic lifestyles with their own set of traditions and, in some cases, languages.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:12:14 +0000