Letter: Straw was right

Sir: Even allowing for their many ambiguities, the Home Secretary's remarks about "so-called travellers" were thoughtless and ill-timed, coming as they do from a source which should be seeking to challenge rather than reproduce prejudice and stereotyping.

The spurious distinction made between the "few real Romany ... gypsies ... [who] don't cause trouble" and Mr Straw's delinquent masqueraders leaves open to those who stereotype and discriminate against Travellers - including Irish Travellers - the comfort of feeling that they have friends in high places.

It is indefensible to stereotype whole sections of people on the basis of the actions of some of their members.

The disadvantages under which Travellers in Britain have laboured have been increased by the effects of the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, which removed the obligation of local authorities to provide sites for Travellers.

Our concern is primarily with the situation confronting Irish Travellers, who face discrimination at a number of levels, including the criminal justice system, as well as social exclusion and its consequences in the fields of education, employment and health. However, we know from our knowledge of Irish Travellers' experience how easy a target all Travellers are for those swayed by prejudice.

It is this knowledge that leads us to regret that Mr Straw should make statements which are likely to encourage prejudice against Travellers at a time when this is already running high.

MARY TILKI

SEAN HUTTON

Federation of Irish Societies

London NW1