Traveller charity accuses Greater Manchester Police of 'discrimination'

A police force says it is working to engage with the traveller community following accusations of discrimination - after videos emerged of officers pushing children onto trains instead of allowing them to attend a Christmas market.

Charity, the Traveller Movement said Gypsy and Traveller children were actively stopped from attending the Christmas markets in Manchester, and instead 'forced' back onto trains out of the city on Saturday afternoon.

The national charity says it was a 'shocking' and 'completely unacceptable' case of discrimination by Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

A number of high-profile TikTokers within the community have also spoken out to condemn the alleged behaviour of the force, after the footage began being widely shared of the incident at Manchester Victoria train station.

GMP said a dispersal order had been put in place in the city centre to prevent trouble after receiving reports of "groups causing anti-social behaviour on the trains to Manchester" and "several disturbances".

Officers said they were "monitoring a significant increase in footfall", but made no reference to the youngsters involved or trains. The force said officers broke up two fights involved youngsters.

A man and a teenage boy were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency services worker.

But the charity says it has been contacted by "numerous parents" - and that children were left upset and distressed.One witness said: "I saw them all. There were loads of them walking around in groups and the girls were all dressed up. They were doing absolutely nothing wrong, just shopping. It's really unfair that they were treated that way."

A video appears to show an altercation between Gypsy and Traveller children and police by the doors of a train.

The charity said children arriving into Manchester were prevented from leaving the station and 'forced' onto different trains.Report Racism GRT, a hate incident reporting site and support service for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families, claimed some younger children were "separated from their siblings".They hit out at "discriminatory treatment" and called for a full investigation to hold GMP 'accountable for their actions'. Both organisations issued an appeal for anyone with mobile phone video footage or accounts to contact them.Another witness said of the youngsters: "They way they were pushed about and treated was absolutely disgusting. They were getting pushed like animals.

"You would think the Manchester police department would have better criminals to see to than abusing basically young children."In a press release the Traveller Movement said: "Manchester Police have this afternoon allegedly blocked Romani Gypsies and Irish Traveller children from attending the Christmas markets."This heavy-handed and discriminatory action has left children upset and distressed, with parents deeply concerned about the treatment that their children have faced."We have been contacted by numerous parents and recieved video footage of Romani Gypsy and Irish Traveller children arriving into Manchester, and then being forced onto a different train and prevented from leaving the station by police. These children were simply trying to enjoy the festivities like everyone else, but instead have been unfairly targeted and marginalised."This is a shocking case and it is completely unacceptable. We will not stand by while our communities are discriminated against and excluded in this way. Manchester Police must be held accountable for their alleged actions and take immediate steps to end this blatant injustice."The Traveller Movement is a leading national charity and says it works with Irish Travellers, Romani and Roma people to challenge discrimination and promote inclusion. Organisers have also contacted Manchester MP Lucy Powell as well as the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.Greater Manchester Police's Assistant chief constable Rick Jackson said: “We are aware of social media videos circulating, and comments from the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities concerning our policing of a dispersal order in Manchester city centre yesterday.

“Our priority is always to protect public safety by preventing incidents of violence and disorder.

“Due to intelligence of groups causing anti-social behaviour on trains on the way into Manchester and similar reports rising around the city centre, alongside increasing footfall, we issued a dispersal order. This included plans for officers to re-route arriving groups back home.

“Shortly after, officers responded to several disturbances in the city centre and intervened in altercations between groups.

“We understand there are feelings of mistreatment and confusion amongst groups of people for being turned away yesterday, and we are determined to address these concerns by working closely with the Mayor’s office to engage these communities in Manchester and further afield.”

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