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French Socialists double Roma evictions

France's government closed down a record number of Roma camps, evicting nearly 20,000 people in 2013, according to a report by human-rights campaigners. It accuses the ruling Socialists of being tougher on Roma than Nicolas Sarkozy's previous right-wing government.

Police clear a camp in Saint-Denis, near Paris
Police clear a camp in Saint-Denis, near Paris AFP/Paul Szajner
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Police dismantled 165 of the 400 recorded Roma camps in France in 2013 compared to 97 in 2012, the report by the French Human Rights League (LDV) and European Roma Rights Centre (ERCC) said.

The number of people evicted more than doubled, leaping from 9,404 to 19,380, the report, which bases its findings on accounts by rights groups and press coverage, says.

In 2011 8,455 Roma were evicted.

Official statistics show fewer than 17,000 Roma, mainly from Romania and Bulgaria, living in illegal camps.

The number of deportations is higher because some return to France after being thrown out, according to the report.

“This policy of rejection is ineffective, costly and unnecessary since nothing has changed after these evictions,” Pierre Tartakowsky, LDH president, is quoted as saying.

“Roma still live in France, in settlements they have rebuilt a little further away, but their situation is increasingly insecure. The ongoing, increased evictions pave the way for

the expression of extremism and anti-Roma racism.”

More than half of the forced evictions took place in the Paris region, it estimates and claims that credible alternative housing solutions or social support are not offered.

The "situation is getting worse" under President François Hollande and his Interior Minister Manuel Valls, the rights campaigners say, declaring the Socialists' record on

the question "extremely disappointing".

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