When I read "travellers" in a story I always think Gypsy. This guy's name is "Thomas Ward". I was expecting something a little more eastern sounding.
Apparently we've got Irish travellers, and Gypsy/Roma (originally from India).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Travellers#Great_Britain
In 2011, for the first time, the census category "Irish Traveller" was introduced as part of the broader Gypsy/Traveller section. The self reported figure for collective Gypsy/Traveller and/or Irish Traveller populations were 63,193[40] but recent estimates of Travellers living in Great Britain range between 15,000[41] as part of a total estimation of 300,000 Romani and other Traveller groups in the UK.
The police observed it as it was happening, beyond shameful.
They allowed the criminals to drive away.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6397527/thwaites-brewery-blackburn-travellers-camp/