Sam Gelder

A Romany Gypsy woman will take on the government at the High Court next week over its “discriminatory” Policing Act. Wendy Smith has been granted permission to challenge part of the 2022 Police, Crime and Sentencing Act (PSCS) that introduced powers to fine, arrest, imprison and seize the homes of Gypsies and Travellers living in roadside camps.

Backed by charity Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) and human rights campaign group Liberty, Smith will argue the law is discriminatory because it targets minority ethnic communities who have no alternative stopping places. The two-day judicial review will begin on Tuesday. FFT chief executive Sarah Mann said: “You cannot use the full force of the law to tell people where they can’t go without offering alternatives for where they can.”

The hugely controversial Policing Act, passed under former home secretary Priti Patel, also introduced powers to crack down on protests, primarily by climate activists, and sparked the UK’s Kill the Bill movement. openDemocracy revealed in 2022 that the bill was dreamed up by Policy Exchange, a secretive right-wing think tank funded by US oil giant ExxonMobil.

FFT and Liberty will act as ‘interveners’ in the case – someone who can join proceedings because they may be affected by the outcome. FFT has consistently raised concerns about the act’s legal standing, as well as its “draconian attack” on Gypsies and Travellers.

Smith is being represented by Chris Johnson of Community Law Partnership (CLP), along with Marc Willers and Ollie Persey of Garden Court Chambers (GCC)….

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/romany-gypsy-woman-high-court-policing-act-judicial-review/?utm_source=oD%20Daily%20SEGMENT&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Counter-terror%20cops%20grill%20UK%20teen%20over%20Palestine%20protests&_kx=nImgH0ozs6rB7dQ1rsjM9-pFT8q8wYhpnth_94fUaF4R70KLOtnAqEaz3AyyBpMU.YjCYwm

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