Welsh Secretary cleared of using 'racist and discriminatory' language
It's after official leaflets asked his constituents in Monmouthshire about the proposed development of a traveller site
The Welsh Secretary has been cleared by police after being accused of 'racist and discriminatory language' against members of the travelling community.
Official leaflets, published by David TC Davies' office, asked his constituents in Monmouthshire about proposals for the development a traveller site.
He said the leaflets were 'completely justified' as they're a 'legitimate matter for public debate and scrutiny'.
The leaflet
The leaflet, distributed to homes across his South Wales constituency near potential sites Roma and Traveller sites, read: "Would you like to see a Traveller site next to your house?"
The document adds: "Local MP David Davies believes that there will be insufficient consultation with the members of the public affected."
It asks concerned residents to contact Tory officials over their worries and asks: "Would you like to see a Traveller site next to your house?"
The police response
Representatives from the Traveller community complained to the police over the comments, which were deemed to be 'racist' and 'discriminatory'.
In a statement, Gwent Police Chief Superintendent Carl Williams added: “We launched a review into the contents of a leaflet published and distributed in Monmouthshire regarding proposals for a development of a traveller site.
"Officers have spoken to several people from the traveller and settled communities before seeking advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on whether the leaflet’s contents constituted any offences.
"Any allegation of discrimination is taken extremely seriously and following this review, we will not be taking any further action.”
Police have also said they took advice from the Crown Prosecution Service before clearing Mr Davies of any wrongdoing.
'A legitimate matter for public debate and scrutiny'
Mr Davies, who has represented the constituency since 2005, said the leaflets were completely justified and denied they were a criticism of the Traveller community.
Speaking last week, Mr Davies said: "The location of authorised and unauthorised traveller sites is a legitimate matter for public debate and scrutiny. It is entirely valid to criticise a lack of wide public consultation by a council.
"I have been contacted by many upset residents at the shortness of the consultation and the proposed locations for the sites.
"I have also been told that many from the Traveller community are also upset at the proposed locations for the sites. This is not a criticism of the Traveller community."
Locals were 'horrified'
Trudy Aspinwall, from TCY Cymru, said locals who received the leaflet were "horrified" at Mr Davies' language.
She said: "They were upset, angry and worried that pieces of land that could be viewed with hostility.
"We do not have an issue with a public consultation. However, this was a disproportionate and hostile response which is targeted at the race and ethnicity.
"The effect it has is to make the Travelling community feel like they are not wanted anywhere and that they are not part of the community."
'We feel deeply that we are not liked'
Allison Hulmes who co-founded the Romani and Traveller Social Work Community Group described discrimination as the "last acceptable form of racism".
She said: "We feel deeply that we are not liked, that people hate us and that we don't belong and that they would prefer it if we completely assimilated, so that we don't identify as the ethnic people we are, or we did just leave."
She said: "We feel like the environment is particularly hostile off the back of the new criminal legislation, so when we see this from MPs who are there to set the values who we would look to for protection, it makes us feel scared, it's so depressing.
"Because our populations are so small and only a few of us are prepared to speak out - and we understand why this is - it's just exhausting. It reinforces to us that we are hated."
A Gwent Police spokesman previously said: "We were aware of a leaflet published and distributed in Monmouthshire regarding proposals for a development of a Traveller site."
Detective Inspector Steve Thomas added: "Officers are reviewing the content of the leaflet and its impact on the traveller and settled communities in Monmouthshire.
"We take any allegation of discrimination extremely seriously and we’re committed to ensuring our communities are safe places and welcoming for all."