	Housing Needs Service
	Torbay Council
	Connections Town Hall Castle Circus Torquay TQ1 3DS
	housing.advice @torbay.gov.uk
	01803 208723
	01803 208282

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Gypsies and Travellers

Gypsies and Irish Travellers are recorded as living in this country as early as the beginning of the 15th Century. Planning Law defines Gypsies and Irish Travellers as people with a nomadic way of life and whilst this is historically true, 90% of Gypsies across the world now live in houses.

Even where Gypsies and Travellers do live in houses, their culture and heritage stays with them. The romantic view of Horse Drawn Caravans and living in ‘Yurts’ or ‘Benders’, (type of tent) has long since passed. These days, they use modern vehicles and trailers (caravans).

For more information visit the Travellers page on this website.

Frequently Asked Questions

There's nowhere to put my houseboat or caravan-where can I go for help?

The council should consider you to be homeless if you live in a moveable structure such as a caravan, and there is no place where you are allowed to keep it or live in it.

For further advice, see our preventing homelessness page or contact us using the contact details on the right hand side of this page.

You could also contact:

I have suffered harassment or discrimination because I am a Gypsy or Traveller. Where can I go for help?

Gypsies and Travellers are a recognised ethnic group for the purposes of the Race Relations Act (1976), identified as having a shared culture, language and beliefs. Case Law established Gypsies as a recognised ethnic group in 1988.

The Race Relations Act 1976 (amended 2000) makes it unlawful for a person to discriminate on racial grounds against another person. The law defines racial grounds as including race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins.

If you have feel you have suffered harassment or discrimination, you can seek advice from the following agencies:

In an emergency situation, contact the Police on Tel: 999.
For a non-emergency, contact the main switchboard number for the police on Tel: 08452 777444.
The Police also employ a Diversity Officer who can be contacted on Tel: 01803 841581 for advice and information.
The Monitoring Group Rural Racism Project offers a 24 freephone Tel: 0800 374 618 support and advice service for victims of racial violence and harassment in Torbay. E-mail:rrp@monitoring-group.co.uk
- They also offer advice at their premises at 1 Lucius Street, Torquay. Tel 01803 203 525.
Devon Racial Equality Council
Victim Support

I have been discriminated against while I have been in contact with the Council. Who can I report it to?

We at Torbay Council are committed to eliminating any form of harassment and discrimination from all aspects of our work and ensuring we contribute to making Torbay a safer place for minority communities. If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of discrimination that has occurred:

Whilst visiting a Council building/reception
When receiving a Council service
By a member of Council staff whilst working for the Council

We want to hear about it, please complete the online form - Notify - Discrimination Report Form.

How is Torbay Council meeting the needs of Gypsies and Travellers?

All the Local Authorities in Devon are working together to take a Devon wide approach to meeting the future needs of Gypsies and Travellers. This has been informed by jointly commissioned research undertaken by the South West Regional Assembly.

This research has also been carried out by other Authorities throughout the country and its purpose is to establish what actions Local Authorities, Care Trusts and other supporting bodies need to take into consideration to meet the needs of Gypsies and Travellers in this area.

The results of the Devon survey can be accessed via www.southwest-ra.gov.uk or alternatively view the Panel Report from related documents section below.