How Anti-Roma is the UK (and Europe)?
How Anti-Roma is the UK (and Europe)?
I want to share something that effects every aspect of my life. This is not just history, but the realitymyself and my people live with every single day.
I know we aren’t the only ones who are persecuted in Europe. But the truth is, we Roma are persecuted systematically in every country we live in.
It doesn’t matter if we’re in the UK, Slovakia, Greece, or anywhere else in Europe, there is always a law, a policy, or an attitude stacked against us. We are still treated as the continent’s scapegoats, blamed for society’s ills, punished by police, denied fair housing, and even have our children taken from us for no wrong doing.
And yet, we don’t have the same protections or recognition that other communities (rightfully so) can call on.
Police Brutality and State Violence
For us, police violence isn’t rare, it’s expected.
In Slovakia this year (June 2025), police stormed the Romani settlement of Veľká Ida, firing warning shots and using force against families, including children and elders. Groups like ERRC and Amnesty have demanded investigations into the racist motives behind it (ERRC & Amnesty). And in Greece, three young Roma were shot and killed by police in recent years, andyet accountability is nowhere to be found (Ekathimerini).
Here in the UK, we face a different kind of brutality. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (2022) makes our very way of life illegal. It lets police evict us, fine us, or even take away our homes if we camp without authorization—even though there aren’t enough legal sites to go to (The Guardian). Just think about that: just being ourselves is illegal.
Our Children Taken From Us
One of the most painful realities is how often Roma families are torn apart. Poverty and cultural misunderstanding are used as excuses to remove Roma children from their homes. In the UK, hundreds of Romani and Gypsy children are in state care, not because of abuse, but because the system sees our way of life as unfit (AdviceNow). Across Europe, this is part of a long, ugly tradition of trying to erase us through assimilation.
Always the Scapegoat
We’re called “vermin” and “scum” in comment sections on major tabloids and news sites, we blamed in tabloids for everything from litter to crime, and treated as a threat whether we’re traveling or settled. In Northern Ireland this summer, mobs attacked Roma families during riots, forcing people to flee their homes (The Guardian). It’s always us who are targeted first, always us who can be dehumanized without consequence.
The Truth
We are still persecuted. We are still denied protections others take for granted. We are Europe’s, and possibly the world’s, favorite scapegoat.
And yet, we are still here.
We keep our culture alive, we fight for our families, and we refuse to disappear. That’s why it’s so important to speak up, share these truths, and demand change. Because our lives matter just as much as anyone else’s.
If You Wish To Learn More
If you want to understand more about what we Roma face today, these are some of the best resources I have (feel free to add your own if you have any):
European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) – A Roma-led legal advocacy organization working across Europe to fight discrimination and protect human rights.
Roma Education Fund (REF) – Focused on educational equality for Roma students and combating segregation in schools.
Union Romani Voice (UK) – A Roma-led UK charity providing support, advocacy, and cultural programs.
ENAR: European Network Against Racism – Offers research and resources on antigypsyism and structural discrimination.
Fundación Secretariado Gitano (Spain) – Publishes reports on modern discrimination and social exclusion of Roma communities.
Sources for the Information Above
ERRC & Amnesty – Veľká Ida Police Violence
Ekathimerini – Greece Police Shootings
The Guardian – UK Travellers Discrimination
AdviceNow – Roma Children in Care
The Guardian – Northern Ireland Riots
