Police chiefs have come under fire for arranging a party for gipsies and travellers using £2,000 of taxpayers’ money – to help improve relations.
The Warwickshire force are to host the event in the grounds of their countryhouse HQ, in the leafy village of Leek Wootton, this coming Saturday.
The event will include traditional Roma bands, dancing, story telling and even Nintendo Wii games competitions.
It is hoped the party will help links with the traveller community after a series of high-profile clashes between residents and camps in the county.
But furious tax watchdogs say the cash should be spent on catching crooks, not PR stunts.
Mark Wallace, campaign director for the Taxpayers’ Alliance, slammed the move. He said: ‘No matter what the reason is for this event it should not be up to the police to organise these events just to improve public relations.
‘These are recession times and police budgets are severely stretched as it is, and the taxpayer would not want them spending on things like this.
‘Police money should be spent on catching criminals and fighting crime not pr exercises like this.’
A group of 16 gipsy families illegally set up a site near Shipston-On-Stour, Warwickshire, causing trouble with many local residents in March last year.
Shipston-on-Stour is also home to David Mills, the husband of Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell.
Assistant Chief Constable for Warwickshire Police, Bill Holland, defended the decision to go ahead with the party.
He also heads up the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) group that leads on gipsy and Traveller issues.
He said: ‘Unauthorised encampments have become a source of friction between police and Gypsies and Travellers.
‘We know education is at the heart of some of these contentious issues.
‘This is set to be a really new and engaging event which we would welcome all members of our communities to attend.
‘As well as having something on offer for everyone to enjoy, the event is a step in the right direction to improving relations between police and the travelling community.
‘Hopefully this day will be the start of building relationships with the aim to better understanding and learning about the different cultures and societies we all live in.
‘The purpose of this event is to raise awareness and understanding amongst all members of the police workforce, members of partner organisations and community groups of gipsy Roma Traveller culture.
‘Local residents are encouraged to bring friends and young people to join in the event and the activities running throughout the day.’
Liberal Democrat councillor Stuart Bray, said that the event would stick in the throats of people facing illegal traveller camps near their homes.
He said: ‘I don’t think seeing the police having tea and biscuits with the traveller community at our expense is going to sit well with people waking up to a camp in their back yard.
‘We are having a constant battle with the government, both in Warwickshire and Leicestershire, about the allocations of traveller camps we must provide.
‘Feelings are running very high at the moment, and while I am all for negotiation, I don’t see this is the best way to go about it.
‘I think we have to be careful this issue is not hijacked by racists but what it needs is a serious debate and not a party at the police HQ.’
Assistant chief constable for Warwickshire police, Bill Holland, admitted the party for the gipsy and traveller community at his forces HQ will cost £2,000.
He said: ‘It will cost £2,000 and a lot of people are giving up their time for free.
‘We regard the issue of the relationship between gipsy and travellers and the settled community a significant issue in Warwickshire.’
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