Changes to the bill, which grants new dispersal powers to the police to disband groups of two or more young people if they are deemed to be causing trouble, will particularly affect Traveller families because it is estimated that 80 per cent of the community is under 25.
Combined with changes to the public disorder and trespass section of the bill, dispersal could lead to a greater likelihood of young Travellers being moved on and communities split up, compounding the existing problem of a severe shortage of legitimate sites available to them.
Noelette Keane, director of the Irish Traveller Movement in Britain, said: "The Travellers Law Reform Coalition has submitted suggested amendments to the House of Lords. The community has a high mortality rate and poor literacy skills, and needs greater representation of their human rights."
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