Introduction

UK legislation recognises that people can be discriminated against not only directly but also indirectly. It is acknowledged that overt, direct discrimination is gradually being eradicated within the UK but that subtle, indirect forms of discrimination continue.

The vocabulary available for considering and discussing issues to do with race and ethnicity is sensitive and changes over time. The same word means or implies different things to different people. So a term which is unproblematic and indeed positive for one person may be questionable or offensive for another. Some terms and their meanings are explained in this document.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published a series of papers called “Focus on Ethnicity and Identity” which explore, compare and contrast the characteristics, lifestyles and experiences of the ethnic groups making up modern Britain. To find out more, visit www.statistics.gov.uk/focuson/ethnicity.

Macpherson Inquiry

A decade after the Macpherson Inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence, the police service across England and Wales has made significant progress in dealing with race equality issues, according to a report issued today by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

However, the report finds that the police must do more to tackle problems with stop and search and information held on the DNA database, as well as address the poor retention of new ethnic minority officers. It also reveals evidence of a ‘canteen culture’ among some specialist units which are still seen as a ‘closed shop’ to some ethnic minority recruits.

The Commission’s report, 'Police and Racism: What has been achieved 10 years after the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report?', finds that progress made in the past ten years on recruitment, training and employment of ethnic minority staff is encouraging, with many individual forces providing examples of good work in this area.

The report also notes significant progress made by the police in the areas of reporting and investigation of race crimes, illustrated by the way officers dealt with the murder of Anthony Walker in 2005 compared with their investigation into Stephen Lawrence’s killing.

News/Articles

Lifts and Ladders: resolving ethnic minority women's exclusion from power.

Publications / Seminars

			The Runnymede Trust published a new study - Who Cares about the White Working Class? – on class and ethnic diversity in Britain.
			'Tell Me What I Need to Know' is a resource designed to help parents, particularly those from Black and Minority Ethnic, Refugee, Asylum-Seeking and Traveller communities, to support their children's education more confidently and effectively.
			Code of practice on racial equality in employment by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
			Defeating organised racial hatred: an information pack by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
			Inclusion and the Market A factsheet providing information on different communities and ways to further include them in Northern Ireland’s labour market.
			Bullying around Racism, Religion and Culture: how to prevent it, and what to do when it happens.
			Hard to deal with A study which explores the relationship between multiple identity and employability with people who are currently out of work in Northern
			Race for Health is a transformational change programme that enables PCTs to make the Health Service in their areas significantly fairer for black and minority ethnic communities.
			Dealing with racism by Teachernet.
			Words Strain: Diversity, language and cultural relations This essay is offered in the first instance for consideration within the British Council, and is about words to explain and express, and to expand and explore, the Council’s core business – that of making known UK creative achievements and of establishing and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships between the UK and other countries.
			Ethnic Minorities in Politics, Government and Public Life by the House of Commons Library.

Legislation

			The Race Relations Act 1976
			The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000
			The Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003
			Equality bill