Briefing NotesIntroductionThis option draws together many of the issues covered in previous sections of the project. Students should be able to synthesise the various strands through their study of Dover, and also by reflecting on their own local situation.Study of DoverThe situation so far ...Because of its position as the 'gateway to Europe', Kent has received a relatively large number of asylum seekers in recent years, since the change in the law in 1996 forced asylum seekers to stay in arrival areas in order to receive support. In addition to many other nationalities, mostly from Africa and Asia, large numbers of European Roma (gypsies) from the Czech Republic and Slovakia have arrived there. Some people have been very surprised at this as there is no war or 'police state' in those two European countries.Stories then began to appear in the media. Since the end of communist rule in eastern Europe in 1989, many old conflicts have burst out again in the region (as in the former Yugoslavia) and the Roma have once more become a target for abuse. Neo-Nazi 'skinhead' gangs have been reported as roaming some of these former communist countries and attacking them. Under communism the Roma were receiving a proper education and were in paid employment; now many of their children are judged 'subnormal' and placed in special schools, and the adults find it increasingly difficult to get jobs. Some politicians have made racist statements about them and the police do not seem to protect them effectively from attack. Slogans such as 'Gypsies to the gas chambers' appear on walls, and the inhabitants of one town even went so far as to surround the gypsies' living area with a wall to separate them from everyone else, an action reminiscent of the treatment meted out to the Jews in the 1930s. Many Roma have begun leaving and seeking safety in western European countries or countries such as Canada.Gypsies have often been an unpopular group and their arrival has caused some local unrest in Kent. This has highlighted the plight of asylum-seekers there in general. Far-right political groups have exploited the situation and on several occasions have attempted to march through the area handing out anti-asylum-seeker leaflets. There have been rumours of asylum seekers being paid higher benefits and getting preferential treatment for council housing and some high-profile violent incidents have occurred between asylum seekers and local youths. One local newspaper appeared to take a very critical stance on asylum seekers and police had to warn the proprietors about the laws regarding 'incitement to racial hatred'. Local campaigners point out that rumours have persisted about asylum seekers being more likely to be criminals and, despite police assurances that there is no evidence to support this view, there seems to be a widespread reluctance among some local people to listen to the facts. Some schools have been very slow to accept responsibility for educating the children of asylum-seeking families, partly because of language difficulties. Slowly, organisation and information have improved and matters have started to change for the better. The local authority is playing an increasingly effective role in coordinating support services, schools are developing strategies to educate the children and community groups are making a positive contribution. The lessons in this unit include some examples of these improvements.Reflecting on your local situationThis can be done through local research and could involve devising questionnaires and holding interviews to ascertain local opinions and experiences. It would provide a good opportunity to make links with local groups and to invite their representatives in to speak to students, to arrange visits or even to undertake joint projects. The Refugee Council has produced a directory of refugee resources in the UK which lists details of all the agencies and community groups working with asylum seekers and refugees (£9.95). Alternatively, local EMTAG (Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Grant) services will be able to help you make contact with local groups.