16 Racial Discrimination
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2. When discrimination can happen
6. Discrimination when renting or buying a house or flat
7. Discrimination at school or college
8. Discrimination when buying goods or services
It is against the law for businesses or service providers to racially discriminate against or harass you by:
- refusing or deliberately failing to provide you with 'goods, facilities or services'; or
- not providing goods, facilities or services of the same quality, on the same terms and in the same way as they would to other people.
It covers things that are free, as well as those you pay for. It covers many businesses and services, including:
- shops;
- public places, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and leisure centres;
- bank accounts, loans, credit cards and insurance;
- travel and transport services that are either public or offered by private companies and travel agents; and
- services supplied by local authorities (such as leisure services).
When a business or service provider is allowed to discriminate
A business or service provider can discriminate on some grounds if it is a charity whose main purpose is to provide services to a particular racial group (though it still can’t discriminate on the grounds of colour). Also there are some situations that are not covered by the Race Relations Act, for example private members clubs with fewer than 25 members.
Discrimination by public authorities
It is against the law for public bodies to racially discriminate in the way they carry out their functions, including, for example:
- the police (stops and searches);
- local authorities (environmental health inspections);
- the prison service (prison discipline);
- HM Revenue & Customs (tax inspections; searches).
Also, public bodies have a duty when carrying out such functions to consider how they can:
- eliminate racial discrimination; and
- promote equality of opportunity and good race relations.
You might be able to take legal action against a public body that does not comply with this duty. Some public authorities must also have a Race Equality Scheme (called a Race Equality Policy in educational institutions), which sets out how their policies meet these criteria or what they will do to meet the criteria. If they do not have a Race Equality Scheme or Policy, the Commission for Racial Equality can take action against them.
9. What you can do about discrimination
10. Going to an employment tribunal
This leaflet is published by the Legal Services Commission (LSC). It was written in association with the Commission for Racial Equality.
Leaflet Version: November 2007