Advice and Information

SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF RACISM

• What is Racial Discrimination?
• What is Racial Harassment?
• What should I do if I have suffered racial discrimination or racial harassment?
• What is a racial crime or racial incident?
• What should I do if I have suffered a racial incident or crime?
• How can EREC help me?
• Where can I go for further help?

What is Racial Discrimination?

Racial Discrimination is when someone is treated less favourably than another person in the same or similar situation because of his or her race, colour, nationality or national or ethnic origin.

Racial Discrimination can be encountered at work, when buying goods or using services, when buying or renting property, at school or college or when dealing with authorities such as the police or health service.

For more information: www.clsdirect.org.uk or www.cre.gov.uk

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What is Racial Harassment?

Racial Harassment is unwanted behaviour that hurts your dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile or humiliating atmosphere for you.

Racial Harassment can be encountered at work, once you have left work and require a reference, when renting or buying a property, at school or college, or when buying or using goods and services.

For more information: www.clsdirect.org.uk or www.cre.gov.uk

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What should I do if I have suffered racial discrimination or racial harassment?

If you have been a victim of racial discrimination or harassment you must first consider what you want to be done. Do you want your job back, an apology, compensation, evidence that the organisation will not discriminate again?

You must start by attempting to sort the matter out with the organisation or individual who has discriminated against or harassed you. This means writing a statement to your employer or using your organisation’s grievance procedure if you have been discriminated or harassed at work, or writing a complaint and following the complaints procedure if your complaint is with a service provider.

If this does not help, you may be able to take your case to county court or tribunal, however there are strict time limits for taking your complaints to these stages.

If you want to make a complaint under the Race Relations Act to an employment tribunal, you must send your complaint or a completed ET1 form to the Regional Office of Employment Tribunals within three months less one day from when the discrimination or harassment first happened. The employment tribunal will decide whether you have suffered discrimination or harassment.

If you want to make a complaint under the Race Relations Act, which is not related to employment, you can take your case to county court. You must submit your written complaint or N1 form to the court within six months less one day from the date when you first knew about the discrimination or harassment. The court will decide whether you have suffered discrimination or harassment.

For more information: www.clsdirect.org.uk or www.cre.gov.uk

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What is a racial crime or racial incident?

The definition of a 'racist incident' now adopted by all police forces is 'any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person'. It is now police policy to treat even 'minor' incidents seriously, not just physical assaults, because of the particular fear that a racist motive can cause, and the possibility of escalation if such incidents are unchecked.

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 created new criminal offences in relation to race, such as racially aggravated criminal damage, assault and public order offences. The Public Order Act 1986 also makes it illegal to incite racial hatred, whether through the language used or through actions, such as distributing racist leaflets. Penalties are severe for anyone convicted of a racially motivated crime.

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What should I do if I have suffered a racial incident or crime?

Racist attacks and violence are very serious criminal offences and you should consider reporting what has happened to you to the police. There is no reason why you should ever have to put up with attacks because of who you are, and the police have the powers under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to help you.

Going to the police can take a lot of courage, and if you are worried, you could confide in a friend, or call a support organisation such as Victim Support, the Samaritans or a local community group.

If you do not want to approach the police, you may get help from a third party reporting centre in your area. If you live, work or study in Enfield, or have suffered a racist crime in Enfield, you can report the incident to the following sites:

Enfield Police Community Safety Unit
T. 020 8345 4731

Enfield Council Community Safety Unit
T. 020 8379 4182

Enfield Racial Equality Council
T. 020 8373 6271/2

Victim Support Enfield
T. 020 8350 0354

Enfield Law Centre
T. 020 8807 8888

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How can EREC help me?

EREC can provide advice and information on your legal rights, and general help in regard to what action you can take and how to complain if you are a victim of any form of racism. We will signpost you to local and, where appropriate, regional agencies who may be able to help you further.

Currently, due to limited funding, we are restricted to taking on a very small number of cases. If you receive casework support from us, in addition to the above, you can expect us to support you with letter writing, completing necessary forms, pursuing a resolution to your complaint, and keeping you informed.

EREC does not provide representational support at tribunals, courts or hearings. Where this support is required, or specialist legal help, we will signpost you to other organisations or legal agencies that may be able to assist you further.

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Where can I go for further help?

The following agencies may be able to assist you further with your complaints or provide specialist help:

Enfield Citizens Advice Bureau
T: 0870 126 4664, W: www.adviceguide.org.uk

Enfield Law Centre
T: 020 8807 8888, E: info@enfieldlawcentre.org.uk

Commission for Racial Equality - CRE
T: 020 7939 0204, W: www.cre.gov.uk

London Race Discrimination Unit
T: 020 7793 0378, E: contactrdu@aol.com

ACAS (Discrimination at work)
T: 08457 474747, W:www.acas.org.uk

Free Representation Unit
T: 020 7831 0692, E: admin@fru.org.uk

Information on solicitors
W: www.justask.org.uk

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