Book Review: The Gypsy and the State: The Ethnic Cleansing of British Society
| Published date | 01 October 1996 |
| Author | Alan Beckley |
| Date | 01 October 1996 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X9606900423 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
Scottish) who had been involved in the 12-year investigation.
This thoroughly researched and detailed account of the case by an
ex-member of the Metropolitan Police makes fascinating reading.
Prominence is given to the factors in Black's early life which may have
influenced and provided motivation for his later deviant behaviour, when
his abhorrent sexual desires could only be satisfied by abducting,
ravishing and killing little girls. He became a sexual monster.
Each kidnapping is described in detail and emphasis placed on the
action taken by the police, in particular the ensuing investigations and
their breadth. The subsequent appointment of a senior police officer,
Hector Clark, to coordinate the inquiries is a clear indication of the
concern felt that the killer was still at large, but success was not to come
until Black was arrested in Scotland in 1990 for yet another kidnapping;
his young victim was actually tied up in the back of his van when he
was stopped by police. After that, as the writer shows, the inquiries
necessary to collect sufficient circumstantial evidence to link Black
irrefutably to the abductions and murders took another four years. The
nature of these Herculean efforts is outlined objectively, almost
dispassionately, to complete an absorbing story. R.W.S
THE GYPSY AND THE STATE: THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF
BRITISH SOCIETY, 2nd edn, by Derek Hawes
and
Barbara
Perez.
Policy Press. Hardback £14.95.
This is an important work produced from research carried out in the
Avon area into the lives of travellers and gypsies and commences with
their history, describing intolerance and prejudice. The book examines
policy issues, and the political and social problems of travellers. The
role of courts is evaluated and judicial review which, it is argued,
has tempered the effects of legislation. Also, aspects of planning and
laws important to travellers are discussed.
A section on the eduction of traveller children asserts that, nation-
wide, there are 50,000 with a low standard of literacy. A change in the
attitudes of education professionals is proposed, citing poor co-ordination
of services, lack of funding and frequent evictions. Asecond case study
examines health care provided for travellers, reporting cultural problems
in registering for entitlements. A high incidence of illness and accidental
injury is revealed.
There is a summary of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act
1994 provisions relating to travellers, along with accompanying
government circulars. It is asserted that provisions in the Act were
designed more to reassure the settled majority than to persecute gypsies.
Privatization of gypsy site provision is discussed and that many local
authorities have not revised policies.
The book perceives less movement of travellers and a decrease in
"new age" travellers, but there are reports of violence between gypsy
groups. The "race question" postulates that, if house dwelling is
October 1996 The Police Journal 375
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