Gypsies and Travellers and Local Communities

Jim Cunningham Excerpts

Monday 9th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

Obviously, when there are problems we expect local authorities and the police to act. The view of people in the settled community is that if they were flouting the law in the same way as a small percentage of Gypsies and Travellers do, they would be treated more harshly by the authorities.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

I want to reinforce what was said by my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley North (Ian Austin). It is vital for the west midlands that the Minister meets the police and crime commissioner, as well as MPs from the area, as soon as he can to try to resolve this problem. There is a lack of resources for police and local authorities and a weakness in the law—that is meant in no way to discriminate against genuine Travellers, by the way.

[Alok Sharma]

I hope that what I say towards the end of my speech will give the hon. Gentleman some comfort.