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.

News/Articles
Racist road workers are sentenced to prison for bullying a Muslim colleague
On April 17, 2008 a British court ruling decided on the behalf a Muslim road worker who was subject to a 10-month campaign of racial harassment at his former work place at Amey Mouchel's Motorway in Bescot, Walsall (UK). His three colleagues were each sentenced for three years of prison. According to the judge their behaviour went beyond 'horseplay' and developed into a “campaign of deliberate bullying”. Apparently the three men tried to force Amjid Mahmood to eat pork, placed a rucksack containing multi-coloured wires designed to resemble a bomb on top of Mahmood's work locker, and on top of that set fire to his trousers. The group also tied their victim naked to railings and hosed him down with cold water. Additionally Amjid Mahmood was constantly insulted with racial comments and jokes. Some of the bullying was recorded on a mobile phone camera. The judge commented his ruling with the fact that these men “humiliated Amjid Mahmood and the things they did to him were painful, hurtful, dangerous, and done with considerable thought.” He continued his speech with a warning that “this behaviour was an appalling example of what can happen and its consequence, this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated in a civilised society, in the workplace or elsewhere.”

Focus on Ethnicity and Identity
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.

Terms
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.

Facts
The most recent Census was on 29 April 2001. According to it in England and Wales as a whole:

			91.3% of the population are white, whilst 8.7% come from minority ethnic groups.
			Overall, 44.5 per cent of all Asian and Black people in the UK live in London.
			The largest minority ethnic group is of Asian heritage, with 23% being Indian, 16% Pakistani and 6% Bangladeshi.
			14% of minority ethnic people are of mixed race.

You can view the Census 2001 table in detail here

			For the first time, people were able to describe themselves in Census 2001 as of mixed ethnicity; in England and Wales 660,000 people described themselves as such. The largest mixed group is white and African-Caribbean – 237,000 people identified as this category of whom 137,000 (57.5 per cent) are aged 15 and under.
			The proportion of minority ethnic groups in England rose from six per cent to nine per cent. This is partly as a result of the addition of ‘mixed’ ethnic groups in 2001.
			The Irish and the African-Caribbean groups report poorer health than the average. For England and Wales as a whole 9.2 per cent say they are in 'not good health' compared with 14.8per cent of the Irish group and 10.7 per cent of African-Caribbeans.

For more information on the last Census please visit the National Statistics website: www.statistics.gov.uk/census/

Legislation

			The Race Relations Act 1976 The Race Relations Act 1976 makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person, directly or indirectly on racial grounds in: employment; education; housing; and in the provision of goods, facilities and services.
			The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000
			The Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003
			Equality bill

Publications
Inclusion and the Market
A factsheet providing information on different communities and ways to further include them in Northern Ireland’s labour market.

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

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.