The HM Inspectorate of Prisons (2014) published a study that nourishes false prejudices about an increased crime rate among Rroma. Although the study points out that the alleged affiliation rate of 5% of the detainees could be the result of social exclusion, they confirm at the same time one-sided conceptions of illiteracy and lack of education among Rroma. Rroma children are said to be particularly over-represented in prisons. The lack of education is cited as the main cause for the claimed increased crime rates among Rroma: “It has been suggested that Gypsy, Romany and Traveller groups are among the most excluded minority groups in the UK, and available research and data points to poorer health, educational and social outcomes. Of particular relevance to this paper are: difficulties with literacy, which have an impact on accessing services and jobs.” The authors of the study are not or not sufficiently aware that they hinder a successful integration of Rroma with the publication of these results, because these confirm prejudices. At the end, the study indicates that the department of justice has to apply efforts to better integrate the Rroma and Travellers, but the announcement of this intention doesn’t at all compensate the prejudices that are fuelled by the study (compare Barrett 2014, BBC 2014, Cottrell-Boyce 2014, Doyle 2014, The Guardian 2014).
- Barrett, David (2014) One in 20 prisoners are gipsies, says official report. In: The Telegraph online vom 11.3.2014. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10690048/One-in-20-prisoners-are-gipsies-says-official-report.html
- BBC (2014) One in 20 inmates ‘from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds’. In: BBC online vom 11.3.2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26539961
- Cottrell-Boyce, Joseph (2014) Too many Gypsies and Travellers end up in prison – this must be addressed. In: The Guardian online vom 12.3.2014. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/12/too-many-gypsies-travellers-prison-education
- Doyle, Jack (2014) One in 20 prisoners are gipsies or travellers: More than 4,000 are behind bars say jail inspectors. In: Daily Mail online 11.3.2014. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2578427/One-20-prisoners-England-Wales-gypsies-4-300-bars.html
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons (2014) People in prison: Gypsies, Romany and Travellers. In: Ministry of Justice online vom 14.3.2014. http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/inspectorate-reports/hmiprobation/joint-thematic/gypsies-romany-travellers-findings.pdf
- The Guardian (2014) One in 20 prisoners of Gypsy, Romany or Traveller background, says HMIP. In: The Guardian online vom 11.3.2014. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/mar/11/gypsies-roma-travellers-over-represented-jails-england-wales-prisons