Report Racism and Discrimination

Discrimination means treating someone unfairly because of a protected characteristic. A protected characteristic is a personal trait, such as ethnicity, which is protected under the following act. This means someone cannot lawfully discriminate against you because of your ethnic background.

Equality Act 2010

English Gypsies and Irish Travellers–Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are recognised as two distinct ethnic minority groups in law because they are recognised as members of communities with a shared history, culture and language stretching back over hundreds of years. As such, they are granted the full protection of the Equality Act.

New Travellers – New Travellers are not a legally recognised ethnic minority group because their history only goes back to the early 1960s. However, all individuals and groups are granted protection under The Human Rights Act.

Types of Discrimination

Direct Discrimination

This happens when someone is openly treated unfairly because of a characteristic like ethnicity. For example, a pub putting up a sign that says “No Travellers.”

Indirect Discrimination

This happens when rules or policies unfairly affect a group. For example, when applying for housing a local authority may ask for a long address history that Gypsies and Travellers might not have due to travelling around.

How to report racism and hate crime

Police

• • Call 999to report an ongoing crime or if someone is immediate danger.
  • Call 101for non-emergencies or contact your local police.

  Equality Advisory Support Service

  • Service: If you have experienced discrimination from an organisation or institution then EASS may be able to assist you in making a complaint or challenging this.
  • Website:http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/
  • Phone:0808 800 0082
    • Open Monday to Friday: 09.00am to 07.00pm
    • Saturday: 10.00am to 02.00pm

    Report Racism GRT

    • Service: Run by and for Gypsy, Traveller, and Roma communities to report hate crimes. By using this reporting tool you are providing Report Racism GRT with evidence of discrimination against Gypsy, Roma, Travellers which can be put to government.
    • Website:http://www.reportracismgrt.com/
    • Phone:07534 790984

    True Vision

    • Service: Supported by all police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, True Vision allows you to report hate crime online. There is now a section dedicated to reporting hate crime against Gypsies, Roma and Travellers here.
    • Website:https://www.report-it.org.uk/
    • Email:[email protected]

    Victim Support

    • Service: Victim Support offer a supportline, which operates 24/7 all year round, as well as a live chat service. They offer free guidance and advice to victims or witnesses of crime.
    • Website:https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
    • Phone:08 08 16 89 111

    Legal Help

    Visit our directory of contacts for solicitors specialising in discrimination law here.

    Resources

    Download the Friends, Families and Travellers Race Hate Crime poster here.

    Download Marc Willers’ article on tackling race hate speech here.

    If you are having difficulties, please contact the Friends, Families and Travellers helpline on 01273 234 777. We are open:

    • Monday to Friday
    • From 10.00am to 4.30pm
    • Closed on Bank Holidays

    Correct as of June 2024