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Romani people in the United Kingdom
A portrait of a Romani woman by English painter Octavius Oakley
Total population
United Kingdom United Kingdom: ≈ 225,000 – 0.4% (European Commission estimate, 2012)[1][2]
England England: 99,122 – 0.2% (2021)[3]
Scotland Scotland: Unavailable
Wales Wales: 1,842 – 0.06% (2021)[3]
Northern Ireland: 1,529 – 0.08% (2021)[4]
Regions with significant populations
North West England and Greater London
Languages
Angloromani, Scottish Cant, Kalá
Religion
Christianity, Islam
Part of a series on
Romani people
Flag of the Romani people
Romani people by sub-group
Romani diaspora by country

Romani people have been recorded in the United Kingdom since at least the early 16th century. There are estimated to be around 225,000 Romani residing in the UK. This includes the Romanichal, Kale (Welsh Roma), Scottish Lowland Roma and a sizeable population of Roma from Continental Europe, who immigrated into the UK in the late 1990s/early 2000s and after EU expansion in 2004.[5][6] They are considered part of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community.[7]

England

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Romanichal (commonly known as "English Gypsies") are a Roma subgroup in England. The first Roma arrived in England in the 16th century. Romanichal predominantly live in England, but also in South Wales, Northeast Wales and the Scottish Borders.[8] Most Romanichal speak English and Angloromani. There exists a north–south divide between Romanichal in Southern and Northern England, with the two groups' dialects differing in pronunciation and vocabulary.[9]

Wales

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Kale are a Roma subgroup in Wales. The first Roma arrived in Wales in the 16th century.[10][11][12] Kale predominantly live in the Welsh-speaking parts of Northwestern Wales and speak Kalá (Welsh Romani). The Roma population in Wales is estimated to be around 3,000.

Scotland

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Further information: Scottish Gypsy and Traveller groups

According to the Scottish Traveller Education Programme, an estimated 20,000 Scottish Roma and Travellers live in Scotland.[13] Amongst the Roma in Scotland are the Scottish Lowland Roma (commonly known as "Lowland Gypsies"), Romanichal and Roma who have recently migrated from other subgroups in Continental Europe.

The first recorded reference to "the Egyptians" appears to date from 1492, during the reign of James IV, when an entry in the Book of the Lord High Treasurer records a payment "to Peter Ker of four shillings, to go to the king at Hunthall, to get letters subscribed to the 'King of Rowmais'". Two days after, a payment of twenty pounds was made at the king's command to the messenger of the 'King of Rowmais'.[14]

Northern Ireland

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Around 2,500 Romani lived in Northern Ireland in 2016. Although Irish Travellers were sometimes incorrectly referred to as “gypsies” in the past, they are not Roma. Roma in Northern Ireland include recent Roma migrants from Continental Europe (primarily Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic) and their descendants, and Irish Roma that have existed in Ireland for centuries due to historical migration. Although they mixed with Irish Travellers and settled Irish natives, these Irish Roma have preserved their Romani identity and culture across generations.[15][16][17]

Demographics

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Country of birth (2021 census, England and Wales)[18]

Religion

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Romani people in the UK are predominantly Christian, with 71.8% of Romani in England and Wales identifying as Christian in the 2021 census compared to 46.2% of the wider population.[19][20] The second largest religion amongst Romani people in the UK is Islam.[19]

Religion England and Wales
2021[19]
Number %
Christianity 72,485 71.8%
No religion 17,732 17.6%
Islam 2,028 2.0%
Buddhism 368 0.4%
Judaism 187 0.2%
Hinduism 58 0.06%
Sikhism 43 0.04%
Other religions 674 0.7%
Not Stated 7,405 7.3%
Total 100,980 100%

Marginalisation

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A Romani encampment in Essex, England, c. 1897~1899
Further information: Antiziganism § United Kingdom

Romani people have faced widespread marginalisation, prejudice, and discrimination across the United Kingdom.

In 2005, Doncaster Borough Council discussed its review of Gypsy and Traveller needs[21] and concluded that "Gypsies" and Irish Travellers are among the most vulnerable and marginalised ethnic minority groups in Britain.[22][23]

In 2007, a study by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that widespread prejudice against "Gypsy Traveller" communities persists in Wales.[24]

In 2008, a report by the University of the West of Scotland found that both Scottish and UK governments had failed to safeguard the rights of the Roma as a recognised ethnic group and did not raise awareness of Roma rights within the UK.[25]

In 2012, an Amnesty International report stated that "Gypsy Traveller" groups in Scotland routinely suffer widespread discrimination in society,[26] as well as a disproportionate level of scrutiny in the media.[27][28]

Since 2015, changes in policy have resulted in an ongoing widespread shortage of authorised encampment sites for nomadic communities, including traditionally nomadic Romani communities.[29] In its 2019 electoral manifesto, the Conservative Party made a promise to "tackle unauthorised Traveller camps" to "protect our communities" by empowering police to arrest Travellers and seize their homes and property without compensation, perpetuating long history of criminalisation of Travellers in the United Kingdom.[30][31] After success in that election, plans to implement these policies are proceeding.[32]

British acts of legislation

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A Romanichal "atchin tan", or Romani site, as they are known in English
Horses on show at Appleby Fair, England, Europe's largest Romani Horse Fair

The Egyptians Act 1530 banned Romani people from entering England, requiring those already living there to leave within sixteen days under the threat of confiscation of property, imprisonment, and deportation. The Egyptian Act of 1554 amended this law, removing the threat of punishment on the condition that Romani people abandon their "naughty, idle, and ungodly life and company" and adopt a settled, sedentary lifestyle. However, this same act also raised the penalty for noncompliance to death. Later, in 1562, new legislation was passed which permitted Romani people born in England and Wales to formally become English subjects but only if they assimilated into the local population, and the punishment of death remained for those who refused to assimilate.[33][34]

The Enclosure Act of 1857 created the offence of injury or damage to village greens and interruption to its use or enjoyment as a place of exercise and recreation. The Commons Act of 1876 makes encroachment or enclosure of a village green, and interference with or occupation of the soil, unlawful unless it is with the aim of improving enjoyment of the green.[35][36]

The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act of 1960 states that no occupier of land shall cause or permit the land to be used as a caravan site unless he is the holder of a site licence. It also enables a district council to make an order prohibiting the stationing of caravans on common land, or a town or village green. These acts had the overall effect of preventing travellers using the vast majority of their traditional stopping places.[37]

The Caravan Sites Act 1968 required local authorities to provide caravan sites for travellers if there was a demonstrated need. This was resisted by many councils, who would claim that there were no Romanichals living in their areas.[38] The result was that insufficient pitches were provided for travellers, leading to a situation whereby holders of a pitch could no longer travel, for fear of losing it.

The crisis of the 1960s, caused by the Caravan Sites Act of 1968 (stopping new private sites being built until 1972), led to the appearance of the "British Gypsy Council" to fight for the rights of the Romani people in Britain.

In the UK, the issue of "Travellers" (referring to Romanichal Travellers, Irish Travellers, Funfair Travellers (Showmen), as well as other groups) became a 2005 general election issue, with the leader of the Conservative Party promising to review the Human Rights Act of 1998. This law, which absorbs the European Convention on Human Rights into UK primary legislation, is seen by some to permit the granting of retrospective planning permission. Severe population pressures and the paucity of greenfield sites have led to "travellers" purchasing land and setting up residential settlements very quickly, thus subverting the planning restrictions.[39]

Romanichal Travellers and Irish Travellers argued in response that thousands of retrospective planning permissions are granted in Britain in cases involving non-Romani applicants each year and that statistics showed that 90% of planning applications by Travellers were initially refused by local councils, compared with a national average of 20% for other applicants, disproving claims of preferential treatment favouring Travellers.[40]

They also argued that the root of the problem was that many traditional stopping places had been barricaded off and that the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994, passed by the then Conservative government, had effectively criminalised their community, for example by removing local authorities' responsibility to provide sites, thus leaving the travellers with no option but to purchase unregistered new sites themselves.[41]

Famous people

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See also: List of Romanichals

Further reading

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  • Taylor, Becky (April 15, 2014). Another Darkness, Another Dawn: A History of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers. Reaktion Books. ISBN 9781780232577.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Roma integration in the United Kingdom". European Commission – European Commission.
  2. ^ "The European Union and Roma – Factsheet: United Kingdom" (PDF).
  3. ^ a b "2021 Census: Ethnic group, local authorities in the United Kingdom". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  4. ^ "MS-B01: Ethnic group". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. ^ "World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - United Kingdom : Roma/Gypsies/Travellers".
  6. ^ Roma / Gypsies / Travellers - Minority Rights Group
  7. ^ Acton, Thomas; Acton, Jennifer; Cemlyn, Sara; Ryder, Andrew (2016). "Why we need to up our Numbers Game: A non-parametric approach to the methodology and politics of the demography of Roma, Gypsy, Traveller and other ethnic populations" (PDF). Radical Statistics (114). Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Gypsies and Traveller Policy in Wales" (PDF). ec.europa.eu.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.salford.ac.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies)
  11. ^ Beyond the Stereotypes: A review of Gypsies/Roma/Travellers and the Arts in Wales
  12. ^ Welsh Gypsy, Welsh Gypsies, Welsh Romanies, Kale, Wales
  13. ^ "Gypsies and Travellers in Scotland". Scottish Traveller Education Programme. 5 February 2007. Archived from the original on 11 August 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  14. ^ "Gypsies in Scotland". The Scottish Gypsies of Scotland. 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  15. ^ THE ROMA COMMUNITY in Northern Ireland and housing: A SCOPING REVIEW
  16. ^ Joyce, David (2023). "Gypsies in Ireland—a Hiberno-Romany Community". History Ireland. 31 (3).
  17. ^ "An Irish Romany writes". Travellers Times. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  18. ^ "Country of birth (extended) and ethnic group". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  19. ^ a b c "Ethnic group by religion - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  20. ^ "Religion, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  21. ^ "introduction 2.22". Doncaster.gov.uk. 1 December 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  22. ^ "The Council Chamber". Doncaster.gov.uk. 1 December 2006. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  23. ^ Gypsies and Travellers: A strategy for the CRE, 2004 – 2007
  24. ^ "Who Do You See? – Living together in Wales" (PDF). Equality and Human Rights Commission. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  25. ^ Lynne Poole; Kevin Adamson (2008). "Report on the Situation of the Roma Community in Govanhill, Glasgow" (PDF). University of the West of Scotland. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  26. ^ Amnesty International in Scotland; Napier University MSc Journalism (2 April 2012). "Caught in the Headlines – Scottish Media Coverage of Scottish Gypsy Travellers" (PDF). Amnesty International in Scotland. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  27. ^ "Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland: The Twice Yearly Count – No. 16: July 2009" (PDF). The Scottish Government. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  28. ^ Beth Cadger (2009). "Gypsy/Traveller Numbers in the UK – A General Overview" (PDF). Article12.org. YGTL – Article 12 in Scotland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  29. ^ Perraudin, Frances (18 January 2018). "Gypsies and Travellers in UK face housing crisis, charities warn". The Guardian.
  30. ^ Wenham-Ross, Kitty. "Britain's Conservatives Pledge to Target Roma". Foreign Policy.
  31. ^ Dalton, Jane (2019-11-30). "Tories accused of 'criminalising Gypsies and protecting illegal fox-hunting' under crackdown on trespass". The Independent. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  32. ^ Hymas, Charles (2021-01-15). "Exclusive: Intentional trespass on private land to become criminal offence". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  33. ^ Timbers, Frances (20 April 2016). 'The Damned Fraternitie': Constructing Gypsy Identity in Early Modern England, 1500–1700. Routledge. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-317-03651-7.
  34. ^ "GYPSY & TRAVELLERS IN BRITAIN – HISTORY TIMELINE | Romani Cultural & Arts Company". Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  35. ^ "Inclosure Act 1857". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  36. ^ "Commons Act 1876". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  37. ^ "Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960". Legislation.gov.uk.
  38. ^ Diacon, Diane (2007). Out in the Open: Providing Accommodation, Promoting Understanding and Recognising Rights of Gypsies and Travellers. Coalville: Building and Social Housing Foundation. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-901742-02-2. OCLC 572779016.
  39. ^ Thomas Alan Acton; David Gallant (2008). Romanichal Gypsies. Wayland. ISBN 978-0-7502-5578-3.
  40. ^ "Gypsies and Irish Travellers: The facts". Commission on Racial Equality (UK). Archived from the original on 11 October 2007.
  41. ^ "Gypsies". Inside Out - South East. BBC. 19 September 2005.
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