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Gypsies and Travellers

Information about how we work to coordinate improved Gypsy and Traveller services, including authorised pitches and sites.

All local authorities in Suffolk (including the Police, PCT and Children and Young People's Services) work together to create improved services for Gypsies and Travellers, whilst balancing the needs of settled communities.

A county-wide steering group works to ensure the statutory, voluntary and county sectors respond effectively to the welfare of Gypsy and Travellers.

Gypsy and Traveller sites in Suffolk

Unauthorised encampments

An unauthorised encampment is where any person camps on land they do not own. Suffolk has developed a protocol for managing unauthorised encampments (PDF, 547KB).

These are rules to:

  • address the need for effective management of unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller encampments, whilst ensuring the rights of Gypsies, Travellers and the settled communities are met
  • ensure the county, district, and borough councils are working together with all agencies to meet the needs of Gypsies, Travellers and the settled communities

To find out more read our Joint Equality Impact Assessment Report (PDF, 147KB)

Report an unauthorised encampment within your area online.

Unauthorised developments

An unauthorised development is where a person has developed an area of land for residential use without planning permission.

Find out more

For more information on the role of community in life in the county, download the myth-busting leaflet below

This leaflet aims to provide information that will support increased understanding and learning between different communities.

More information can be found in the leaflet below. 

Information can also be found on the friends, families and travellers website. A national charity that works on behalf of all Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families.