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ISSUES: Racial & Ethnic Discrimination
Chapter 2: Tackling racism
Chapter
2 Tackling racism
What to do if you’re worried about racism
Following the EU referendum, youmay be worried about reports of an increase in race hate
incidents, inparticular towardsmigrantworkersandethnicminorities. Inaddition, if youare
an EUnational working in theUK, youmay feel uncertain about your future position.
B
elow
is
some
useful
information about your rights,
what you can expect, and
where to go for help and support
if you experience racism at work or
elsewhere.
Your rights at work
All employees have the right to:
Ö
Work in safe and healthy
conditions
Ö
Not be threatened, harassed or
bullied
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Not be discriminated against
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Complain about poor treatment
without being victimised
EU nationals working in the UK
EU citizens still have the right to live,
work or get benefits in the UK. This will
not change until the UK stops being
a member of the European Union or
a new agreement is negotiatied for
EU nationals already resident in the
UK. That process could take some
time, and changes will be announced
before they happen, so there is no
need to rush to take any action.
Talking about contentious
political issues
Ö
Any discussion about contentious
political
issues
should
be
conducted
sensitively
and
with respect for the views and
positions of others.
Ö
We all have the right to freedom
of expression, but this does
not extend to the protection of
speech that discriminates against,
harasses or incites violence or
hatred against others.
Race hate incidents
There have been reports of an increase
in racism and hate incidents. These are
criminal offences.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council has
said that:
“Victims and those feeling vulnerable
will receive support from the police and
offenders can expect a strong response
and enhanced sentencing.
Where to get information and help
Ö
If you have any worries, you can
discuss thesewithyour linemanager.
Ö
If you are a union member, speak to
your union representative.
Ö
If you believe you have been
discriminated against, contact the
Equality Advisory and Support
Service on 0808 800 0082.
Ö
Anyone who experiences a race
hate incident can report it by calling
the police on 101. In an emergency,
always dial 999.
Ö
You can also use True Vision, the
official website for reporting hate
crime –
. True
Vision have information about third
party reporting centres for those
who do not want to go the police
directly. These centres also provide
advice and support.
Ö
In Scotland, report hate incidents
directly on the Police Scotland
website –
police.uk/secureforms/hate-crime/
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You
can
also
contact
the
independent charity Crimestoppers
anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Ö
If you are an EU national, you can
get information relevant to people
from your country of origin from
your embassy or consulate. If you
need help to find your embassy or
consulate, please contact Citizens
Advice at
.
uk or call 03444 111 444.
Ö
Victim Support helplines: England
and Wales – 0808 168 911; Scotland
– 0345 603 9213.
Ö
For impartial advice on tackling race
hate incidents in the workplace,
contact Acas (Advisory, Conciliation
and
Arbitration
Service)
at
/index.
aspx?articleid=5771.
Ö
The above information is an
extract from the publication
What
to do if you’re worried about racism
.
It is reprinted with kind permission
from the Equality and Human
Rights Commission. Please visit
for
further information.
Ö
Adapted
from
.
equalityhumanrights.com/sites/
de f au l t / f i l e s /wha t- t o - do - i f -
youre-worried-about-racism-eu-
referendum-factsheet.pdf.
Ö
The copyright in the document this
publication has been adapted from
and all other intellectual property
rights in that material are owned by,
or licensed to, the Commission for
Equality and Human Rights, known
as the Equality and Human Rights
Commission (“the EHRC”).
© Equality and Human Rights
