Role of the Traveller Liaison Officer
The Traveller Liaison Officer’s role is to improve community
cohesion around Gypsy and Traveller issues in Suffolk as well
as:
- respond to complaints about unauthorised encampments;
- ensure that authorities meet their legal duty to promote good
relations between different racial groups;
- work with other agencies in Suffolk to improve access to
services for Gypsy and Travellers;
- provide information and advice on all Traveller matters;
- reduce the number of illegal encampments;
- improve temporary and permanent sites provision.
Working in partnership
All local authorities in Suffolk including the police, PCT and
Children and Young People’s Services are working together to
coordinate improved services for Gypsies and Travellers in Suffolk,
whilst balancing the needs of the settled communities.
A countywide Gypsy and Traveller steering group has been
established. This group meets bi-monthly with its main aim to
ensure the statutory, voluntary and county sector can respond
effectively to the welfare of Gypsies and Travellers.
Authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites in Suffolk
In Suffolk there are a number of authorised Gypsy and Traveller
sites, both council owned and privately owned. These are spread
across the following districts:
- Mid Suffolk - 13 private sites with 46 pitches in total
- Ipswich - 1 local authority managed site with 41 pitches and 1
private with one pitch
- Waveney - 1 privately managed site with 20 pitches
- Forest Heath - 1 privately managed site with 32 pitches and 1
privately owned site with 12 pitches
- St Edmundsbury - 2 authorised sites
There are no authorised sites in Babergh or Suffolk Coastal
districts.
Unauthorised encampments
An unauthorised encampment is where any person camps on land
they do not own.
Suffolk is currently developing a protocol (set of rules)
to:
- address the need for effective management of unauthorised Gypsy
and Traveller encampments whilst ensuring the rights of the Gypsies
and Travellers are met;
- make sure the county, district and borough councils are working
together with all agencies to meet the needs of Gypsies, Travellers
and the settled communities.
More information
Do you know about Gypsies and
Travellers is a leaflet that is intended to
provide some information about this community and the
role they play in the life of the county. The leaflet provides
some facts and busts a few of the common myths, with the aim of
providing information that will support increased understanding and
learning between different communities in
Suffolk.
Gypsy and Travellers - frequently asked questions, myths and
facts
EIA Full Assessment (PDF, 53KB)
Gypsy & Traveller Strategy 2007-09 (PDF, 592KB)
Protocol for Managing Unauthorised Encampments (PDF,
53KB)