Press Release issued 19th March 2021
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, 2021 will make accessing education impossible for nomadic Gypsy and Traveller children
The Advisory Council for the Education of Romanies and other Travellers (ACERT) is deeply concerned about the implications of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, 2021.
As a national UK charity working to ensure that Gypsy and Traveller children are able to access education at all levels, the new Bill will effectively serve to exclude the children of nomadic Gypsy and Traveller families from such public services.
Through our active campaigning work over many years, we know very well the day-to-day challenges and struggles that are faced by families living on roadside sites.
Being able to access services such as education can be hard enough without the damaging measures contained in this Bill, which will criminalise nomadism and severely disrupt the education of Gypsy and Traveller children.
With family homes potentially being seized, as well as jail sentences (up to 3 months) and large fines issued (up to £2,500), the consequences of criminalising nomadism in the UK will be severe and damaging.
ACERT aims to ensure equality of provision in education for Gypsy and Traveller children and we would urge the Government to look again at the Bill and to seriously think through the consequences of what is being legislated.
The fundamental human right to an education for any child should not be dependent on where and how you live your life. The Government, through its actions, would seem to not share this view.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, 2021 will make accessing education impossible for nomadic Gypsy and Traveller children
The Advisory Council for the Education of Romanies and other Travellers (ACERT) is deeply concerned about the implications of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, 2021.
As a national UK charity working to ensure that Gypsy and Traveller children are able to access education at all levels, the new Bill will effectively serve to exclude the children of nomadic Gypsy and Traveller families from such public services.
Through our active campaigning work over many years, we know very well the day-to-day challenges and struggles that are faced by families living on roadside sites.
Being able to access services such as education can be hard enough without the damaging measures contained in this Bill, which will criminalise nomadism and severely disrupt the education of Gypsy and Traveller children.
With family homes potentially being seized, as well as jail sentences (up to 3 months) and large fines issued (up to £2,500), the consequences of criminalising nomadism in the UK will be severe and damaging.
ACERT aims to ensure equality of provision in education for Gypsy and Traveller children and we would urge the Government to look again at the Bill and to seriously think through the consequences of what is being legislated.
The fundamental human right to an education for any child should not be dependent on where and how you live your life. The Government, through its actions, would seem to not share this view.
UK Gypsy and Traveller Education Charity Condemns Government Bill
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, 2021 will make accessing education impossible for nomadic Gypsy and Traveller children
The Advisory Council for the Education of Romanies and other Travellers (ACERT) is deeply concerned about the implications of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, 2021.
As a national UK charity working to ensure that Gypsy and Traveller children are able to access education at all levels, the new Bill will effectively serve to exclude the children of nomadic Gypsy and Traveller families from such public services.
Through our active campaigning work over many years, we know very well the day-to-day challenges and struggles that are faced by families living on roadside sites.
Being able to access services such as education can be hard enough without the damaging measures contained in this Bill, which will criminalise nomadism and severely disrupt the education of Gypsy and Traveller children.
With family homes potentially being seized, as well as jail sentences (up to 3 months) and large fines issued (up to £2,500), the consequences of criminalising nomadism in the UK will be severe and damaging.
ACERT aims to ensure equality of provision in education for Gypsy and Traveller children and we would urge the Government to look again at the Bill and to seriously think through the consequences of what is being legislated.
The fundamental human right to an education for any child should not be dependent on where and how you live your life. The Government, through its actions, would seem to not share this view.
