Tuesday 11 March 2014

One in 20 prisoners are Gypsies, says official report

From the Daily Telegraph

Gypsies make up one in 20 of the jail population, according to a new report by an official watchdog.


Research by Nick Hardwick, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, found Gypsies and Travellers were “significantly over represented” in adult prisons in England and Wales, making up 5 per cent of the total.

The figure would equate to more than 4,200 people at current jail population rates.

According to the 2011 Census just 0.1 per cent of the general population - or 58,000 people - describe themselves as a Gypsy or Irish Traveller, meaning the group is over represented by 50 times among prisoners.

Among offenders in secure training centres, which hold young people aged between 12 and 18, there was an even higher proportion of people from travelling backgrounds, the report said.

There, nearly one in eight, or 12 per cent, described themselves as being of Gypsy, Traveller or Romany backgrounds while one secure training centre in Kent reported 22 per cent of offenders were Travellers.

The report did not explore why so many prisoners came from travelling groups, saying “more needs to be done to understand and address this”.

The proportion of Gypsy inmates was “strikingly high” at some individual adult prisons including Elmley in Kent with 12 per cent, Gloucester with 11 per cent and Winchester with 10 per cent, it added.

see also: HM Inspectorate of Prisons - People in prison: Gypsies, Romany and Travellers A findings paper by HM Inspectorate of Prisons

The Guardian - One in 20 prisoners of Gypsy, Romany or Traveller background, says HMIP

The Daily Mail - One in 20 prisoners are Gypsies or Travellers: More than 4,000 are behind bars say jail inspectors

The BBC - One in 20 inmates 'from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds'

The Belfast telegraph - Gypsies 'over-represented in jails'



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