Monday, 2 July 2012

Gyspy Roma Traveller History Month marked by Sussex Police seminar

From Sussex Police

The latest of Sussex Police's 'Time to Think' seminars recognised Gypsy Roma Traveller History month.


The seminars, hosted by Deputy Chief Constable Giles York, aim to improve the Force's service to the diverse communities of Sussex by meeting and talking with their members to gain a better understanding of them.

On Tuesday (June 26), an audience of 40 senior officers, staff and other interested parties attended the seminar at Sussex Police Headquarters to listen to presentations from the Gypsy and Traveller communities.

Michelle Gavin, from Friends, Families and Travellers, made a speech about her late husband's experiences of being an Irish Traveller living in British society and the challenges that he faced. Chris Penfold-Brown, a Romany Gypsy and chair of the Sussex Police Gypsy Traveller Advisory Group, read out a moving poem that she had written to highlight the prejudice that she experienced at school.

They were also able to see an exhibition organised by Romany historian Janet Keet-Black featuring the contribution made by Travellers in two world wars and the current conflict in Afghanistan.

At the conclusion of the seminar DCC York, on behalf of the Sussex Police Diversity Team, presented Michelle Gavin with a cheque for £250 from the Police Property Act Fund as a contribution towards the staging of the Friends, Families and Travellers' production of Crystal's Vardo at Brighton Dome on Thursday (June 28).

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