Federal police agree to stop using term “gypsy”

Belgium’s federal police have agreed to stop using the word “gypsy” on official reports in response to a complaint lodged by the Minorities Forum and the Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities. “The word gypsy stigmatises a group of people and so is unacceptable,” said Wouter Van Bellingen, Minorities Forum director.

According to Van Bellingen, using the word gypsy in police reports is a form of ethnic profiling, which classifies a person on the basis of appearance or conduct. That is illegal in Belgium, he pointed out. The correct term to use is, he said, is “caravan resident”.

The police have agreed to stop using the word “gypsy” and to agree on a new term. They will work with several interest groups to find a neutral word.

photo courtesy Gazet van Antwerpen