Social Welfare Lawyers in the Centre of Birmingham

UK Report to the United Nations under the International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination

This is CLP’s submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government concerning the draft UK report to the United Nations under the International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination:

Attachments

Total Attachments: 2

CLP Submission to Department for Communities and Local Government (26 KB) Discussion Paper - enclosure for CLP submission (509 KB)

Traveller Movement -v- Ofcom

Traveller Movement -v- Ofcom and Channel 4 [2015] EWHC 406 (Admin)

The Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is the broadcasting regulator for independent television and radio, rejected complaints from the Traveller Movement (TM) about two Channel 4 series, Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and Thelma’s Gypsy Girls. TM took a judicial review application against Ofcom and, on 20 February, Ouseley J dismissed the application. TM now intend to appeal this decision. A report on the case can be found on the Travellers Times website at: http://travellerstimes.org.uk/News/Traveller-Movement-to-appeal-High-Court-decision.aspx
The full judgment can be accessed at: Traveller Movement -v- Ofcom Judgment

Best -v- The Chief Land Registrar

R(Best) -v- The Chief Land Registrar and the Secretary of State for Justice [2015] EWCA Civ 17

This adverse possession case did not involve a Gypsy or a Traveller but very occasionally you do come across Gypsies and Travellers who have been on land for many years where it is not clear who the owner of the land is.

The brief facts were that Mr Best had noticed an empty and vandalised property while working on a property next door in 1997. He had been told that the owner had died and that a son had not been seen for years. Mr Best entered the property and did work to it. He replaced ceilings and skirting boards, and electric and heating fitments; he plastered and painted walls. He did this intending to make it his permanent residence. He moved in at the end of January 2012.

Dear -v- SSCLG & Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear -v- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council [2015] EWHC 29 (Admin) 19 January 2015

Ms Dear had been refused permission by the Council for a Gypsy site and appealed to the Planning Inspector.  The matter was recovered by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (SSCLG).  The Inspector recommended refusal of both permanent and temporary permission and the SSCLG agreed with his Inspector.  Ms Dear appealed to the High Court.

Canal and River Trust v Geoffrey Douglas Mayers

Canal and River Trust v Geoffrey Douglas Mayers Chester County Court 22 November 2013 HHJ Halbert

The delay in reporting this case is due to the fact that it has only recently been publicised and we thank the National Bargee Travellers Association for bringing this case to the attention of the boating community.

An action for an injunction was taken against Mr Mayers on the basis that he did not have a home mooring and that he was not using his boat “bona fide for navigation”.