David Lammy’s review offered a rare and welcome focus on the experiences of Gypsies, Roma and Irish Travellers (GRT). Too often, this group – which suffers extreme disadvantage across a range of outcomes – has been overlooked.
Yet at the same time, the Lammy Review suggests that Gypsies, Roma and Travellers are over represented in the criminal justice system. It points to research suggesting that, despite representing just 0.1% of the wider population, Gypsies, Roma and Irish Travellers account for approximately 5% of male prisoners. In some prisons, the population appears to be as high as 12%. These high figures are despite the deficiencies in data collection: 8% of women at HMP New Hall identified themselves as Gypsy, Roma or Traveller, despite the prison reporting one known Traveller.
Kate Green is the Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston, former shadow Minister for women and equalities, and former member of the justice select committee. Kate looks at the experiences of Gypsies, Roma and Irish Travellers in the criminal justice system. Read her full article here