Tackling Racism Against Travelling Communities
1 October 2007
Dr John Coxhead Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer and Research Fellow at Derby
Anyone with even the slightest interest in tackling issues of diversity and exclusion should read this book
”Simon Leckie, Programme Manager for management, leadership and diversity, at Skills for Justice
“A lot of people still view Gypsies and Travellers as subhuman, and treating them as such is seen as some sort of achievement that should be bragged about.”
This was the startling view of one Traveller recorded during a conference between their community and police officers attended by a national expert on Gypsy and Traveller issues who is set to launch an explosive new book.
The Last Bastion of Racism? Gypsies, Travellers and policing (Trentham Books) by Dr John Coxhead, will be launched at the Waterstone’s branch at the University of Derby on Monday, October 1.
The book lays bare true feelings and opinions through intriguing interviews with Travellers and police officers and other members of the criminal justice service about whether such communities are indeed still subject to racism and bigotry in our society.
It also suggests:
- Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers should be recognised as distinct ethnic groups.
- Racism is a learned social cognitive response; it is not inborn.
- Too little has been written by Travellers – they need to assert their voice.
- Strong and ethical workplace leadership is key to cultural change.
Dr Coxhead is a Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer and Research Fellow at Derby, who also identified 30 recommendations for the Home Office to implement positive change in the way the police and criminal justice services work with such communities in a recent policy report Moving Forward.
Now his book, The Last Bastion of Racism? Gypsies, Travellers and policing, explores the specifically neglected area of prejudice towards Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers.
It sets out a problem solving approach at both practitioner and managerial levels that has proved to overcome bigotry in many of its forms and help achieve greater social justice.
Dr Coxhead said: “My view is that the bigotry we see aimed at Travellers is part of some bigger need for scapegoats. As one police officer candidly remarked: ‘If we’re saying these things and we shouldn’t have a go at Travellers, then who can we have a go at?’
“This revealing question exposes an alarming psychological profile… Investigating this last bastion of racism offers an important opportunity to challenge not only racism towards travellers but also the underlying conditions in which bigotry of all kinds flourishes.”
The book will be unveiled at a special launch event at the University’s Kedleston Road site on October 1 starting at 10am. Dr Coxhead is also a member of the University’s Research Centre for Education and Professional Practice.
John has invited a series of delegates from across the justice sector in Derbyshire to attend the event and there will be a guest appearance from an expert from Eastern Europe, Captain Gyorgy Makula, from the Hungarian Police Force, who founded the European Roma Law Officer Association.
Gyorgy will lead a workshop for delegates on the pan-European issues facing all police forces in Europe, the European Union and the Romany population across the continent. The UK has 300,000 Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers. There is a population of Roma Gypsies in excess of 12 million in Europe in countries such as Hungary, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.
John is also the British adviser to the Association of European Roma Law Enforcement Officers in Budapest, and advisor to the UK National Centre for Citizenship and the Law.
His Home Office report, Moving Forward (2005), suggested moving from a cognitive to a performance focus, driven by ethical leadership with the necessary skills to coach people to overcome prejudice by working with communities.
The book has been published by Trentham Books and will be sold at the University’s Waterstone’s branch at Kedleston Road. Priced £15.99, there are forewords by Patrick Delaney, a Traveller whose son Johnny was murdered, and Peter Mercer MBE.
Dr Coxhead has drawn on his extensive research with practitioners, strategic workers and the communities to highlight the issues for and about travellers. He provides an analytical approach and practical one which will be a toolkit for those working in public services to improve service delivery.
As the definitive text for understanding the approaches and strategies by which racism towards a certain community can be effectively tackled, the book will be indispensable to practitioners in public services, particularly criminal justice and policing. It will also interest sociologists and the communities themselves.
-ends-
Notes To Editors
Experts across the criminal justice sector have offered their views on the new book:
What the experts say:
Home Office
Robin Field-Smith MBE, HM Inspector of Constabulary, (Personnel, Training and Diversity), at the Home Office, who is responsible for diversity in policing, will be attending the event.
He said: “John Coxhead very capably explains the proper place of Gypsies and Travellers in a civilised society.
“He also cogently argues how the police and others should urgently challenge the racism and bigotry experienced by a community too often maligned, misunderstood and marginalised. It is a book to be used - regularly and widely."
Law Sector
The new BA (Hons) Crime and Justice degree programme, launched at Derby within the School of Law by Dr David Walsh features The Last Bastion text within Hate Crime module.
Kevin Bampton, Head of Law at the University of Derby, said: “John's book brings a unique practitioner insight into the challenges of policing ethnic migrant communities.
“I hope it will inform policy-makers, professionals and academics in the way they approach this important issue."
Justice Sector
Simon Leckie, Programme Manager for management, leadership and diversity, at Skills for Justice, said: “John provides practical solutions based on a proven track record of success in working with Gypsies and Travellers and fellow police officers.
“What is particularly refreshing about John's book is that he has stripped away the complex terminology that is all too often wrapped around diversity and he gets straight to the heart of how to deliver real improvements in day to day, operational performance where it matters the most – dealing with people.
“Anyone with even the slightest interest in tackling issues of diversity and exclusion should read this book."
The Police
Chief Constable of Essex Constabulary and the ACPO Youth Lead, Chief Constable Roger Baker, said: “The Last Bastion is bringing an important message about the need for inclusion in working with all young people to make communities safer by improving understanding.”
Education
Arthur Ivatts, national advisor to DCFS, said: “The Last Bastion is a definitive book because it uses a ‘joined up’ approach to show how wide social issues like bigotry affect issues like access to justice. For the lessons to be learned, I recommend it to professionals working with any group.”
For more information about this news release, contact Simon Butt, Press and PR Officer, on 01332 591891 or 07748 920023, or email: s.butt@derby.ac.uk.
This press release was written by Deputy Head of Press and PR Simon Redfern on 01332 591942.
