Gypsy / traveller's sites close by - how bad is it actually?

[roadrunner13]

what experiences does everyone have on this thorny topic?

Some don't seem so bad and if they do cause problems, it's not in the local area. Others seem to be very difficult from day 1.

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

I had the misfortune to rent a place for 6 months (unbeknown to me) close to a pikey camp, it was a 6 month nightmare. Vehicles broken in to, dogs stolen, dirty filthy scrotes spitting everywhere and dumping their detritus all over the locality. Drunken fighting, shouting, vehicles revving at all times of the night. They should be included on the General Licence.

 

[J 1177]

We arent to far away from one of the better ones. Not too much bother. Odd dog lads but depends who is on the sight. I got the job of re-seeding a field right next to the camp (litrally feet away). I was quite reluctant to do this but to be fair i got not one bit of bother.

 

[roadrunner13]

With out doubt there is a stigma about them, just not sure how justified it is?

 

[bovrill]

I'm about 15 miles from a small town that is absolutely swamped by thousands of them in many camps.
They are bad enough this far out, and a constant nightmare to be living closer to.

 

[J 1177]

With out doubt there is a stigma about them, just not sure how justified it is?

My brother in law works for a farmer who farms next to another camp. Hes had gas bottles chucked in the front of his lexion, hedges removed with diggers, threats. Has to have a police escort when he bales otherwise they set the swaths on fire. U name it. Its like war torn iraq.

 

[Rookie]

Main problem with our local ones are hare coursing /driving over crops, diesel theft, dumping tyres / waste in local vacinity and sh*ttin in gateways or on tracks where you are likely to walk.
Seem to be into bigger things though like drugs, slavery and even murder (tried at Old Bailey) but nothing sticks, think they are teflon coated or have a good lawyer.

 

[Giles1]

Know several folk with sites nearby.Fuel stolen,various bits of machinery pinched,using hedgerows for toilets and nappy disposal,fences cut,dogs chasing sheep and cattle,gates lifted and or left open,"visits" from friends and family offering advice after one or two were pulled up for misdemeanours.One place there is a bit of a truce as the neighbouring farm is run by a softly spoken crew,but not one that would tolerate much nonsense.They are,shall we say pretty robust in stature so if you happened to walk into one of their fists coming the other way,when you woke up it would probably change your outlook on life,certainly until you could breath through your nose and see again.....

 

[kernowcluck]

We had a big "traveller"camp on our boundary. The only travelling they did was when they were on the nick. They stole anything that they could get their hands on, turned our fields onto latrines and general dumping ground, rustled sheep and their dogs were constantly in our stock. The latter was so bad that NFU declined to insure our sheep as we lost so many. They were consumate arsonists and even tragically managed to burn down one of their own van and a little girl lost her life. The village shops were skinned out and locals threatened and some closed their doors as did the village playing field when they took over misbehaving in the worst possible ways.

I believe in live and let live but only if they don't encroach on my life. We had a genuine old Romany living round here for years and he was liked and respected -completely different species.

 

[Bones]

what experiences does everyone have on this thorny topic?

Some don't seem so bad and if they do cause problems, it's not in the local area. Others seem to be very difficult from day 1.

just dont buy nothing of them , take no sh!t, keep all conversations short

 

[Cowgirl]

Used to live a couple of miles from one. Main problem was theft - cars, horse tack, garden eqipment. We also lost a horse trailer and concrete mixer. Also had large number of caravans parking in lay by opposite our house - not nice feeling of being watched coming and going, never mind the rubbish left behind. Neighbour caught them trying to throttle one of his stirks. Other farmers had machinery, quad bikes etc stolen. One villager nearby had birds stolen from an aviary. It was a nightmare - police helpless. Would not go into the site - told people to claim on their insurance. I used to be quite prepared to live and let live - not any more.

 

[milkloss]

what experiences does everyone have on this thorny topic?

Some don't seem so bad and if they do cause problems, it's not in the local area. Others seem to be very difficult from day 1.

Don't have any near us but know those that do. Even knew someone that got hit and killed by a stone from a catapult by thier evil offspring. Scum of the earth is probably a fairly accurate description and even then thats being kind.

 

[Castle Farm]

Vermin.

 

[Dman2]

Hope Tyson Fury is not reading this or you lot will be in trouble

 

[roscoe erf]

With out doubt there is a stigma about them, just not sure how justified it is?

It's justified

 

[roadrunner13]

bugger

Thanks everyone, thoughts as much but didn't want to believe it.

its a hard one from a planning perspective for new sites as they have to provide some somewhere. Had best get reading up on this

 

[Danllan]

I have heard many, many stories about them and from them when they were being nice to me (defending them). And 99.99% of the stories are true. They will steal anything, turn anything to rubbish, leave the most disgusting mess everywhere and the police will only get involved if they have to.

I have a friend on the Herts / Beds border who was having repeated trouble - much as described in earlier posts - and the police did... nothing. This despite video evidence. So he (edited from we, I had nothing to sue about...) threatened to sue the relevant Chief Constables (this was before Commissioners). Miraculously action was taken and there have been few problems since; but it is crazy that we needed to threaten legal action to get the police to do their job.

The thing is, the police could and can do a great deal - even more so since the change in law regarding trespass - but they rarely want to because of the difficulty and come backs. But they have a duty to do so and can be forced. If we all made the police do what they should, then the scum would probably find life in the UK intolerable and clear off.

I have a very good friend in the Guards in Ireland, and he tells me they are hated there too, and - accurately - are nicknamed the 'Knackers'. But the same problem exists overall, their behaviour is tolerated... we must all be daft...

My conclusion is that we should get the police involved at every opportunity and record everything, then they will have to act.

 

[bovrill]

Hope Tyson Fury is not reading this or you lot will be in trouble

If I caught him coursing or thieving, the mood I get with them, he wouldn't stand a chance.

There are numerous accounts of stolen stuff being spotted in their camps here (a lot of the Wickford sites have an escape route down a track onto the A127, where stuff is in plain view if you're in a high vehicle), but the police won't do anything about it. I'm told that the moment a police car has gone through their gates (shiny wrought iron ones!!) there's a complaint of racial harassment called in against them, and there's hell to pay from higher up, who don't have to deal day to day with the likes of them.
I help Essex and British police with some sport stuff, and their hatred of pikeys is very strong! They can't do anything officially, but they'd love to!

 

[7610 super q]

Hope Tyson Fury is not reading this or you lot will be in trouble

What on earth are you doing in your avatar?..................

 

[Dman2]

What on earth are you doing in your avatar?..................

playing me banjo.
why what did you think i was doing