Racism and the Law
Equality Act 2010
This Act became law in October 2010, bringing together under on Act a number of different Acts, including the Race Relations Act detailed below. For the purposes of the Act, Race includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins.The Act includes:
Equality Duty
This is a law for public bodies telling them they must think about how they can make sure their work supports equality. For example, in their services, through their jobs, and through the money they spend.
Using buying power to make equality better
Buying power is the effect buyers can have on companies they buy things from. Because public bodies buy a lot of things, they can encourage suppliers to treat people fairly in the way they do their work.
Using positive action to increase diversity
Even when people of different races and women do well at school and college, they do not get their fair share of the top jobs. For example
- only 15 Members of Parliament are people of different races. Looking at the diversity of this country, there should be 60.
- only 3 top judges are people of different race
Race Relations Act 1976
It is illegal to:
- Stir up racial hatred by using offensive language or threats (= fine or prison).
- Distribute literature which is likely to stir up racial hatred.
- Refuse someone a job because of colour / ethnic origin, or refuse them promotion/training.
- Refuse to sell someone a house or change the price because of someone’s skin colour/race
- Stop someone using hotels, swimming pools, pubs, cinemas, services, etc..
CRE = Commission for Racial Equality
Set up to monitor and investigate complaints of racism. It also tries to take action against racist people or organisations.
- Has the CRE worked? The CRE deals with only a few dozen cases each year, but over 60% of black people are sure they had been denied a job because of the colour of their skin.
- Why has the CRE not worked? Discrimination like this is difficult to prove. People are not willing to come forward because of fear, or don’t think it will do any good
