Lack of support throughout custodial journey for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people

A new report finds that the criminal justice system and social services lack cultural competency when dealing with young offenders from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) backgrounds.

Partnering with specialist organisations Hibiscus Initiatives, York Travellers Trust, TravellerSpace, and Travelling Ahead, as part of a two-year project for the Transition to Adulthood Alliance, researchers from Friends, Families and Travellers spoke to 91 young people across 19 prisons.

They said experiences were varied, but underlying themes of hopelessness, unrelenting discrimination, and a fatalism to repeat the cycle were woven in the stories heard.

Responses brought attention to how prejudice permeates every life stage for Romany, Irish Traveller, Roma and New Traveller, and even influences views in later life, with respondents referencing exposure to the criminal justice system (CJS) from an early age.

Testimonies also spoke of the ‘revolving door’ that’s often created through the CJS, whereby people in prison find themselves trapped in a turnstile without the necessary tools to secure stability post-release.

The report finds there is a lack of support throughout the custodial journey for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and their families, as well as a lack of accessible and culturally appropriate education, practical courses and workshops, or support for mental health needs. Professionals working with these people were also likely to have poor awareness and understanding of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Authors of the report call for remedies in the form of cultural competency training for all staff working with GRT young people in the CJS, as well as culturally appropriate education and additional practical courses for prisoners.

Report author and Criminal Justice Policy Officer at Friends, Families and Travellers, Sam Worrall, said the report is the culmination of two years of focus groups and interviews with Romany, Roma and Traveller people “currently experiencing the unrelenting gears of the criminal justice system.”

‘Trapped in the Turnstile’ provides a crucial platform for prisoners and their families to have their experiences amplified, in the hope that those responsible will take vital steps to ensure no one is subjected to unfair and unequal treatment, regardless of their background.”

Debbie Pippard, Funding Manager at Barrow Cadbury Trust added that “Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are among the most marginalised in the UK, and vastly over-represented in the incarcerated population…Despite this, their voices and views are seldom heard. We warmly welcome this report, which contains a wealth of contributions of young Gypsies, Roma and Travellers.

“We trust that this important report marks the start of increased understanding of their views, experiences and culture, leading to improvements in the criminal justice response and a decrease in numbers imprisoned.”