This type of coverage is extremely irresponsible and does nothing but encourage fear, ignorance, intolerance and vigilantism. The Travellers did not land from Mars. Many do not sign on the dole and many more take seasonal or full-time work when available. Although, it is extremely difficult for them to keep a job when they have no sites to live on and are constantly being evicted. The governments new measures will make life more difficult for homeless people as well as travellers and put further pressure on people to resort to crime to survive.
Most travellers are non-violent people who resent the image promoted by the press.
They take pride in their homes, most of which are completely legal. Some have given up mortgages and sold their houses to buy buses or trucks worth thousands of pounds. Their festivals are cultural events which provide entertainment and a public meeting place for thousands of people from the cities. There are many tracts of land where festivals could take place, but continuing refusal by the authorities to meet this demand results in unplanned events happening in unsuitable places, with unfortunate incidents involving noise, dead sheep and irate farmers. Such gatherings formed a focal point for our culture from the before 2000BC until the time of the witch hunts.