The Moving for Change Project has funded an excellent report called Local authority approaches to roadside camps in a time of COVID-19. The report has been researched and written by Adrian Jones of the National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups and was published in February 2021.
Roadside Gypsies and Travellers During the Pandemic Part 1
CLP were commissioned by Friends, Families and Travellers to produce a report (funded by the Baring Foundation) into the situation of roadside Gypsies and Travellers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report centres on law and guidance as it applies to unauthorised encampments, evictions and service provision.
See the report here: https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Legal-briefing-22.2.2021.pdf
For the webinar delivered on this matter on 27 October 2020 see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk35x0qvIas&feature=youtu.be
Into the Sea? Wide Injunctions
London Borough of Enfield v Persons Unknown [2020] EWHC 2717 (QB)
Ever since 2015 when Harlow Council obtained a wide injunction against ‘persons unknown’ camping on a large number of parcels of land, Gypsies, Travellers and their supporters have been concerned at the slow but sure spread of these injunctions. If every local authority in England obtained such an injunction where would Gypsies and Travellers who have no place to stop (due to the failure of the very same local authorities to provide pitches, both permanent and transit), go? Into the sea?
Harlow Council withdraw injunction against Traveller camps
On Friday 10th July 2020, Gypsy and Traveller campaign organisations celebrated at news that Harlow District Council have withdrawn their injunction against Traveller camps. In 2015, Harlow District Council and Essex County Council were the first local authorities to obtain an injunction protecting vast swathes of land in their areas against unauthorised encampments. Harlow District Council, with Essex County Council no longer taking an active part in the matter, sought variation of the injunction to continue it beyond its final date at a virtual hearing before Mrs. Justice Tipples on Friday 10th July 2020.
CLP write to Lord Chancellor re Evictions
After writing to the Lord Chancellor about evictions of Gypsies and Travellers during lockdown, CLP have received a very unsatisfactory response. Please see the link below for the two letters. However our interpretation of the recent English and Welsh Guidance in the light of COVID-19 is that either evictions should not happen or suitable alternative locations should be identified. See our two TAT News E Bulletins on both sets of guidance:https://www.communitylawpartnership.co.uk/noticeboard/links/tat-news
Attachments
Total Attachments: 2
Unauthorised Encampments
Gypsy and Traveller support groups have for some time been pressing the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to provide guidance regarding Gypsies and Travellers who are, through no fault of their own, on unauthorised encampments.
To assist in this process CLP have now produced suggested guidance.
CLP writes to Lord Chancellor about Traveller evictions
Dear Lord Chancellor, Re: Eviction Actions against Gypsies and Travellers The Community Law Partnership is a Legal Aid firm, specialising in housing, public law, and community care. We have a specialist team which advises Gypsies and Travellers throughout England and…
Evictions of roadside Gypsy and Traveller encampments during the Coronavirus emergency
We have seen reports on social media that CLP have said that no evictions can take place at the moment. This is not correct. An amendment to the Civil Procedure Rules has stayed all Part 55 possession actions for 90…
Labour Party Leadership Process
The NFL campaign have written to the 4 leadership and 5 deputy leadership candidates in the Labour Party leadership process. We have asked whether they support the recommendations of the campaign. We will let folks know about what responses we…
The Enshrined Right to Travel : The Bromley Case
London Borough of Bromley v Persons Unknown, London Gypsies and Travellers and others [2020] EWCA Civ 12
Introduction
As many readers will know, London Borough of Bromley (‘Bromley’) appealed to the County Court against the refusal of “a de facto boroughwide prohibition of encampment and entry/occupation…in relation to all accessible public spaces in Bromley” ( in the words of Ms Ann-Leigh Mulcahy QC, sitting as a deputy judge of the High Court, when refusing the injunction). Some 38 similar injunctions have been granted by the High Court in recent years. In the Bromley case, London Gypsies and Travellers (LGT) intervened represented by Marc Willers QC and Tessa Buchanan of Garden Court Chambers and CLP (all acting substantially pro bono). This was, therefore, the first case involving such an injunction in which the Gypsy and Traveller community were represented before the High Court. As a result of the success of LGT in getting the wide injunction discharged (an injunction just against fly tipping and depositing waste was granted), this was also the first case to be argued out at appellate level. At Court of Appeal level Liberty and seven other local authorities also intervened.