Gypsy and Travellers figures 'likely to be inaccurate', warns charity

From Inside Housing

Census figures showing less than a quarter of the Gypsy and Traveller population live in caravans are likely to be inaccurate, a charity has said.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics, released yesterday, showed 24 per cent of respondents identifying as Gypsy and Travellers lived in a caravan or other mobile structure.

But Helen Jones, chief executive of charity Leeds Gate, said many communities who did live in caravans were left out from 2011 census.

‘We know of many roadside camps just in Leeds which were definitely not served census documents as part of that process, and that really undermines the whole thing,’ she said.

‘It is obvious those living in houses are more likely to receive a copy of the census.’

The figures also showed Gypsy and Traveller communities had the highest providers of unpaid care at 11 per cent, and the highest proportion of people providing 50 hours care or more at 4 per cent.

The communities were also twice as likely to live in social housing than the overall population, with 41 per cent compared to 16 per cent.

Gypsy and Traveller communities also had the highest proportion with no qualifications of any ethnic group at 60 per cent, and the lowest proportion of economically active respondents at 47 per cent, according to the figures.