Hate: “As regular as rain” A pilot research project into the psychological effects of hate crime on Gypsy, Traveller and Roma (GTR) communities

Hate crime against Gypsy, Traveller and Roma (GTR) communities is described as almost a daily occurrence, “as regular as rain” as one respondent stated. Gypsy, Traveller and Roma people have the worst outcomes of any ethnic group in Britain in relation to educational attainment, health and employment. They are also disproportionately represented within the criminal justice system. There are higher mortality rates and (anecdotally reported) incidences of suicide within GTR communities than are found amongst the wider British population. Exacerbating this situation, GTR people face everyday discrimination and hatred across all aspects of their lives, occurring in their engagement with public and private services and in their homes. A significant and increasing amount of hate speech is directed at GTR community members online