Pattaya Daily News

Published : February 23, 2010 :: 17:02:28 [ 1,829 views ]

For hundreds of years, living on the edge of society, Gypsies have faced discrimination of all kinds, many having to beg or steal to survive. They originate from one of the poorest communities in Europe and in the last twenty years, have turned to organized crime.

Since Romania joined the EU in 2007, it has been noted that Gypsy children have been exploited on a much larger scale. In Spain, grown men being robbed at cash machines by eight year olds is becoming a common sight. In Madrid, the thieves try stealing large sums of money from customers who don’t give in without a fight. Spanish police say a third of the crime in the city is committed by children under seventeen.

The conditions the Gypsies live in are rat infested, and there is no sanitation.  Every day, the children are sent from the camp to head into the city to steal and beg receiving a beating if they return empty handed.

When questioned, a thirteen year old girl says she can make 300 euros from a single robbery without any risk of punishment. She continued by saying, it is only if we are caught by the police, they take the money we have on us then take us to the day center. The day center lets us go.  She gives some of the money to her mother, keeping some back for herself.

The Italian government recently declared a state of emergency following high profile crimes blamed on the Roma.  Just after Romania entered the EU, police noticed a surge in theft and pick pocketing being carried out by children. A major investigation was carried out with phone tapping and surveillance which revealed a criminal gang using the children to generate huge profits. Members of the gang received a 14 year jail sentence for enslaving and exploiting children many who were found locked in a shed when the camp was raided.

The children who were rescued were taken into care, but it was later discovered that two of the rescued boys had gone back on the streets of Milan doing what they do best. Further investigations show that the elaborate police operations have not rescued these children from their life of crime.

Patty Brown

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Type : Society
Photo : Internet

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