11 February 2012
This information applies to England, Wales and Scotland
Race discrimination is when you are treated unfairly because of your race, or because of the race of someone you are connected with, such as your partner.
‘Race’ includes colour, nationality, citizenship and ethnic or national origins.
If race discrimination takes place in any of the following situations it is illegal and you may be able to take action about it:
Race discrimination can be direct or indirect. It may also take the form of harassment or victimisation.
Race discrimination does not need to be deliberate. Someone may be discriminating against you without realising it or meaning to, but this might still count as discrimination.
It is direct race discrimination to treat someone less favourably than someone else would be treated in the same circumstances, because of race. To prove direct race discrimination, it will help if you can give an example of someone from a different racial group who, in similar circumstances, has been, or would have been, treated more favourably than you. Racist abuse and harassment are forms of direct discrimination.
One example of direct race discrimination is where you are from a particular racial group and an employer refuses to appoint you because, the employer says, you ‘wouldn’t fit in’ or ‘the customers would object’.
It’s also direct discrimination if an employer turns you down for a job because of your connection with someone else of a particular racial group. For example, an employer might turn you down for a job because your partner is Afro-Caribbean.
I'm Asian and the other night, I went to a nightclub with some of my friends. They said we couldn't get in because it was full. Yet a group of white people just walked in. Is this discrimination? Is there anything we can do about this?.
Yes, this could have been an example of direct race discrimination. You might be able to take court action and get compensation if you have been discriminated against because of race. Go to your CAB for further advice.
It is indirect race discrimination to have a rule, policy or practice which people of a particular racial, ethnic or national group are less likely to be able to meet than other people, and this places them at a disadvantage.
Examples of indirect discrimination might include:
If you think that indirect race discrimination might have occurred, you may be able to make a complaint about it. However, if the person or organisation you are complaining about can show that there are genuine reasons for the rule, policy or practice and that it has nothing to do with race, this won't count as discrimination.
For example, an employer may be able to show why an employee needs to have gained their qualifications in the UK in order to work in a particular role. If they can do this, there won't have been any discrimination.
I'm of Indian origin and was employed on a casual basis. Now all the casual workers have been asked to take a written test to decide whether we can stay in the job. I have problems with writing in English. We never have to write anything down in the job and my spoken English is fine. I complained to my boss but he just said I had to take the test or leave. Is there anything else I can do?
You may have a case for indirect race discrimination. Go to your CAB for further advice about what to do. They could help you negotiate with your employers. If this doesn't work, you may be able to make a claim to the Employment Tribunal.
Race means being part of a group of people who are identified by their race,colour,
nationality, citizenship, or ethnic or national origins.
If you are part of one of these groups and you experience discrimination, this counts as race discrimination.
Even if you’re not part of one of these groups, it still counts as discrimination if someone discriminates against you because they think you are. This is known as perceived race discrimination.
It's not always easy to say exactly what is meant by 'ethnic '. However, legal cases about race discrimination have made it clear whether certain groups of people can be counted as being ethnic. These include Jewish people, Romany gypsies, members of the Irish traveller community and Sikhs.
Muslims and Rastafarians do not count as ethnic. However, people from these groups can make a complaint about discrimination because of religious belief.
For more information about discrimination because of religious belief, see Discrimination because of religion or belief.
Someone may discriminate against you because of the race of someone else you know, rather than because of your own race. This is known as discrimination by association. For example, an employer may not appoint you to a job, even though you are the best qualified person, just because the employer knows your partner is black. This would be direct discrimination and you would be able to make a claim to an employment tribunal.
For more information about making a claim to an employment tribunal, see What can I do if my employer treats me unfairly because of race?
If you complain about race discrimination, you shouldn’t be victimised because you complained. This means that you shouldn’t be treated unfairly just because you’ve made a complaint.
Making a complaint includes taking a case to court, going to an employment tribunal or standing up for your rights in some other way.
You can get protection if you are victimised because you’ve made a complaint about race discrimination. You can also get protection from discrimination for helping someone else to make a complaint about race discrimination, for example, by giving evidence as a witness in court.
I have complained to my manager about the racist language used in my workplace. Now no one will talk to me. It's really upsetting and making me ill. Is there anything I can do?
This could be an example of what is called victimisation. Victimisation is illegal. There are steps you can take to try and sort out the problem. Go to your trade union, if you’re a member. Or get help from an experienced adviser, for example, at your local CAB.
It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against you because of race. This includes all employers, no matter how few people they employ. Most workers, including employees, agency workers, trainees and those who are self-employed have protection from race discrimination at work. This includes:
For more information about race discrimination at work, see Basic rights at work and What can I do if my employer treats me unfairly because of race?
Trade unions have a duty not to discriminate against their members or those wanting to become members.
There are some situations where employers are allowed to treat you less favourably because of your race and this won't count as discrimination.
There are times when an employer is allowed to treat you less favourably because of your race and this won't count as discrimination..
If an employer can show that you need to be a particular race in order to do a certain job, they can insist on employing someone of that race.
This is known as an occupational requirement and does not count as discrimination.
An example of where an occupational requirement might apply is a hostel for Asian women who have suffered violence. They may be able to insist that they only want to employ Asian women workers because the women in the hostel would find it easier to relate to and communicate with people of the same sex and racial group.
It is illegal for any school or college to discriminate against someone because of race. This applies to both state and private schools and colleges.
A school or college must not discriminate in any of its policies and practices. This includes its:
Schools and colleges also have a duty to protect pupils against racial abuse and violence from other pupils, both on school premises or on the way to or from school.
You can make a complaint about discrimination by a school, college or university in your local county court (sheriff court in Scotland). However, there may be several other options that you should try first.
If you are thinking about taking court action about race discrimination, you should get advice from an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your local CAB including those that can give e-mail advice, click on nearest CAB. You might also be able to get help from one of the organisations listed under Further help.
If your child is being discriminated against or suffering racist abuse by other pupils in school, you should bring this to the attention of the head.
All state schools should have a clear policy to get rid of racism and to advance race equality. This means that a school should take positive steps to discourage race discrimination and stop racist attacks. If the local education authority has an adviser with special responsibility for race issues, you should also report racist incidents to them
If you are still unhappy, you can then take your complaint to the school's governing body.
If a school or college does not have an anti-racist policy or is unwilling to take steps to prevent race discrimination or racist attacks, you should get advice from a specialist organisation about how to take further action. You may want to tell the police if a criminal offence is involved, for example, if your child is being assaulted.
For more information about how to complain about a school, see Problems at school.
If your complaint is about a college or university, you should first use the institution's own complaints procedure. If you are complaining about a further education college funded by the Skills funding Agency you could also complain to the Agency. Information about how to do this is available on the Agency's website at: www.skillsfundingangency.bis.gov.uk.
If your complaint is about a university in England or Wales, you could take your complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (the OIA).The OIA can be contacted at:
Third Floor
Kings Reach
38-50 King's Road
Reading
RG1 3AA
Tel: 0118 959 9813
Website: www.oiahe.org.uk.
It is illegal for anyone providing goods, facilities or services in the UK to discriminate because of race.
Examples of goods, facilities and services include, shops, banking, entertainment, transport and libraries.
Someone providing goods, facilities or services must not:
It is illegal to discriminate regardless of how the goods and services are provided or whether you have to pay for them or not.
For example, it’s illegal for someone to discriminate against you when you’re buying something in a shop or over the internet, when you’re making a telephone enquiry or when someone gives you written information.
There's a notice in our local pub saying No Travellers. I'm not a Traveller myself but I still find the notice horrible. Is there anything I can do about it?
Members of the Irish Travelling community are counted as an ethnic group so this notice counts as race discrimination and is probably illegal. An experienced adviser, for example, at your local CAB, could help you to make a complaint or take the matter further if this doesn't solve the problem.
Clubs, associations and charities set up especially for people of a particular ethnic or national group are allowed to discriminate in some circumstances. They can discriminate against you because of your nationality or ethnic or national origin. However, they are not allowed to discriminate against you because of your colour.
It's illegal for a public authority to discriminate against you because of your race while carrying out any of it's functions. Public authorities includes government departments, local authorities, NHS trusts, courts and tribunals, police officers and prisons.
On top of this, public authorities have a legal duty to take action against discrimination and to actively promote equality.
With a few limited exceptions, it's illegal to publish or broadcast an advert which discriminates because of race, or which advertises discriminatory services.
If an advertisement like this is published, the Equality and Human Rights Commission can take court action against the publisher.
It is illegal for a person or organisation who is selling a property to discriminate against you because you because of your race. This includes refusing to sell you a property because of your race or offering you the property on less favourable terms.
For more information about buying a home see Buying a home.
For more information about being housed by a social housing landlord, see Finding accommodation.
To find out more about your rights as a tenant of a private landlord, see Renting from a private landlord.
In England and Wales, to find out more about your rights as a tenant of a social housing landlord, see. Renting from a social housing landlord.
In Scotland, to find out more about your rights as a tenant of a public sector landlord, see Renting from a public sector landlord.
If you think you’ve suffered race discrimination there are a number of things you may be able to do. These include:
When deciding what action to take about race discrimination, you will need to think about what you are trying to achieve. For example, do you want financial compensation, justice or publicity? You will also need to think about how quickly you need to get a result.
Any course of action is likely to be complicated and may involve court action. You should consult an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizen’s Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.
For more information about making a claim to an employment tribunal, see What can I do if my employer treats me unfairly because of race?
If you want to take legal action about race discrimination, you may be able to get some help with your case.
You can get advice about this from your local Citizens Advice Bureau, or from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. To find details of your local CAB, including those which can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.
If you qualify for legal aid, you may get free legal advice and assistance from a solicitor. This comes under Legal Help (advice and assistance scheme in Scotland,). You might also be able to get help with the cost of taking a case to court under Legal Representation.
For more information on help you can get with legal costs, see Help with legal costs.
As well as race discrimination, you could be discriminated against for other reasons. For example, because:
For example, you're a black woman who is pregnant and you're sacked. If you think you've been sacked because you're black and because you're pregnant, you can make two claims, one for race discrimination and one for pregnancy discrimination.
For more information about making a claim to an employment tribunal, see What can I do if my employer treats me unfairly because of race?
For more information about other types of discrimination, see our discrimination pages.
The Monitoring Group Freephone Emergency Helpline advises victims of racial harassment and abuse. It is available 24 hours a day and it is staffed by volunteers recruited from black and minority ethnic communities to ensure they can communicate with the caller in the appropriate language. The helpline number is 0800 374 618.
The EHRC may be able to help you if you believe you have been discriminated against. You can contact the EHRC at:-
Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline England
Freepost RRLL-GHUX-CTRX
Arndale House
Arndale Centre
Manchester
M4 3AQ
Tel: 0845 604 6610 (Mon-Fri 8.00am-6.00pm)
Textphone: 0845 604 6620
Fax: 0845 604 6630
E-mail: englandhelpline@equalityhumanrights.com
Website: www.equalityhumanrights.com
The EHRC has published a number of guides about discrimination in employment, goods, facilities and services, public authorities, housing and education. You can find these on the EHRC website at: www.equalityhumanrights.com.
Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline Wales
Freepost RRLR-UEYB-UYZL
3rd Floor
3 Callaghan Square
Cardiff
CF10 5BT
Tel: 0845 604 8810 (Mon-Fri 8.00am-6.00pm)
Textphone: 0845 604 8820
Fax: 0845 604 8830
E-mail: waleshelpline@equalityhumanrights.com
Website: www.equalityhumanrights.com
Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline Scotland
Freepost RRLL-GYLB-UJTA
The Optima Building
58 Robertson Street
Glasgow
G2 8DU
Tel: 0845 604 5510 (Mon-Fri 8.00am-6.00pm)
Textphone: 0845 604 5520
Fax: 0845 604 5530
E-mail: scotlandhelpline@equalityhumanrights.com
Website: www.equalityhumanrights.com
Law centres can offer free legal advice to people who want to take action about race discrimination. If you are represented by a solicitor from a law centre, you may be entitled to legal aid. Details of the nearest law centres are available from:-
The Law Centres Federation
PO Box 65836
London EC4P 4FX
Tel 020 7842 0720
Fax 020 7842 0721
E-mail: info@lawcentres.org.uk
Website: www.lawcentres.org.uk
Scottish Association of Law Centres
Secretary
c/o Govan Law Centre
47 Burleigh Street
Govan
Glasgow G51 3LB
Tel: 0141 440 2503
E-mail: m@govanlc.com
Website: www.salc.info
The Free Representation Unit (FRU) is an organisation which can provide representation for people in the London area on a low income. However, it can only act for people who have been referred in writing by another agency which is an FRU subscriber, for example, some Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABx) in the London area. The contact details of CABx can be found in the local telephone directory or on the Citizens Advice website at www.citizensadvice.org.uk. The FRU can be contacted at:
6th Floor
289 – 293 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7HZ
Tel: 020 7611 9555
Fax: 020 7611 9551
Email: available through a form on the website
Website: www.thefru.org.uk
There is some free representation available in Scotland for tribunals and courts. It is only available for certain cases and for people on a low income. It is only available through a Citizens Advice Bureau.
To search for your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.
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