Gypsies/Travellers have been in Scotland for many centuries and still retain their own cultures and customs.
The term 'Gypsy/Traveller' refers to distinct groups - such as Romany Gypsies, Scottish and Irish Travellers - who regard the travelling lifestyle as being part of their ethnic identity.
There are also other types of Traveller, such as Occupational Travellers and New Age Travellers: distinct groups who do not regard themselves as Gypsies/Travellers.
In Scotland today many Gypsies/Travellers live on authorised council sites, while others live on private sites or roadside encampments. Access to health, education and social services can be difficult for Gypsies/Travellers.
The Scottish Government produces twice-yearly reports of the distribution of Gypsy/Traveller communities across local authority, private land and roadside encampments. This is to assess the consistency or change in their patterns of use of different kinds of stopping places in the summer and winter seasons for the purposes of public service provision.
The total Gypsies/Travellers population in July 2006 was estimated as 2,400 (728 households), 266 households were on official Council owned sites, 137 on private sites and 325 were in unauthorised camps.
The January 2007 count estimated the total population to be 1,650 (551 households), 295 households on Council sites, 159 on private sites and 97 in unauthorised camps.