Definitions
Legal definition of Gypsies and Travellers and context
Race Relations Case Law recognises English Romany Gypsies, and
Irish Travellers as ethnic minorities. These do not include New Age
Travellers.
English Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers have the same rights
to race relations protection as other recognised ethnic minority
groups, but most rights are available to all under the Human
Rights Act 1998.
Public bodies such as Kent County Council have a legal duty to
promote equality and racial harmony between these groups and others
in everything they do, including decision making.
Public bodies must also look to Human Rights legislation. This
does not mean that Gypsies and Travellers receive special treatment
- rather their needs should are balanced against those of the
settled community.
Planning guidance definition
The planning guidance definition is different to the legal
definition of Gypsies and Travellers, and is used for planning
purposes:
The term "gypsies and travellers" means:
"Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin,
including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their
family's or dependants' educational or health needs or old age have
ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excluding members
of an organised group of travelling show people or circus people
travelling together as such.
Note the use of lower case 'g' and 't' for gypsies and travellers.
In this definition it refers to a wider group than just those who
belong to the ethnic groups mentioned in the legal definition."
Housing Act 2004 definition
The Housing Act 2004 definition is used for assessing
accommodation needs - not just those in caravans (link will open in
a new window).
The term "gypsies and travellers" means:
"persons with a cultural tradition of nomadism or of living in a
caravan; and all other persons of a nomadic habit of life, whatever
their race or origin, including:
(i) such persons who, on grounds only of their own or their
family's or dependant's educational or health needs or old age,
have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently; and
(ii) members of an organised group of travelling showpeople or
circus people (whether or not travelling together as such)."