In this special Q&A session, Chris Johnson of the Community Law Partnership in Birmingham (shortlisted Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2023) and Rhiannon Craft PhD discuss a topic very close to their hearts, Gypsy and Traveller law, providing an update on all the latest civil and criminal developments under last year's draconian Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act.

Chris Johnson has acted in some of the leading cases involving Gypsies and Travellers, including three cases in the House of Lords and one in the Supreme Court. He travels the country to represent this marginalised group, as well as lecturing, training, writing and campaigning on issues affecting Gypsies’ and Travellers’ human rights. He is co-editor of the Legal Action Group textbook Gypsy and Traveller Law and writes regularly for Legal Action and other publications.

Rhiannon Craft lives in a vehicle and has personal connections to the New Traveller community. She is a co-founder of Bristol Vehicles for Change, which supports the rights of vehicle dwellers in Bristol. Rhiannon is now finishing her PhD in Sociology and intends to become a member of the legal profession.

This seminar covers:

Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act One Year On

Criminalisation of trespass

How the law has been used and against who

Courts and evaluation of evidence

Reasonable excuse

Welfare checks

Local authorities

Other powers of eviction

Section 60

Existing enforcement measures

Borough-wide injunctions

Developments

Sites