Introduction
Have you ever felt unfairly treated by a public service? You might be experiencing discrimination, which is illegal under the Equality Act 2010 in the UK. This guide will help you understand your rights and the different types of discrimination you may face. If you need assistance, Contend’s highly trained AI legal experts are here to provide guidance and help you navigate your legal challenges. With Contend, you can access the easiest legal help in the UK and ensure that your rights are protected.
If you’ve ever felt unfairly treated by a public service, you might be facing something called discrimination. In the UK, the law that protects you from this unfair treatment is known as the Equality Act 2010. This law makes it illegal for certain organizations to discriminate against you based on specific characteristics. If you believe you’ve been discriminated against, you have the right to take action.
What is Discrimination?
Discrimination happens when someone treats you unfairly because of who you are or because you belong to a particular group. The Equality Act protects people based on what are known as protected characteristics. These include:
- Age (only if you are 18 or older)
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
If you think you’ve been treated unfairly for any of these reasons, it could be unlawful discrimination.
Who Can Discriminate Against You?
Discrimination is only considered unlawful if it’s done by a public authority. Public authorities are organizations that provide services to the public. Examples include:
- Local councils
- Government departments (like the Department for Work and Pensions)
- The police
- Prisons
- Private companies that perform public functions (like a private prison or a charity that provides public services)
These organizations are required by law to treat everyone fairly when they provide services or carry out public functions.
Types of Unfair Treatment
There are specific behaviors that can be considered unlawful discrimination. Here’s what to look out for:
When receiving services
A public authority must not discriminate against you by:
- Refusing to provide a service
- Offering you a service on worse terms or of lower quality (like charging you more or making you wait longer)
- Causing you harm or disadvantage while providing a service
When exercising public functions
A public authority must not discriminate against you by:
- Denying you benefits from a public function (like refusing financial support)
- Treating you worse than others when performing a public function (like making you wait longer at a government office)
- Causing you harm or disadvantage while performing a public function
Examples of Discrimination
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If you’re deaf and the police don’t provide a sign language interpreter during an interview, this could be considered unlawful discrimination based on disability.
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If a planning officer denies your application simply because of your background as an Irish Traveller, that could be seen as unlawful discrimination based on race.
Different Types of Discrimination
The Equality Act recognizes several types of discrimination:
- Direct discrimination: Treating someone less favorably because of a protected characteristic.
- Indirect discrimination: When a policy or practice applies to everyone but disadvantages a particular group.
- Discrimination arising from disability: Treating someone unfairly because of something related to their disability.
- Failure to make reasonable adjustments: Not taking steps to help someone with a disability access services.
- Harassment: Unwanted behavior that causes distress or humiliation.
- Victimization: Treating someone unfairly because they complained about discrimination.
What to Do If You Experience Discrimination
If you believe you’ve been discriminated against, there are steps you can take:
- Document Everything: Keep a record of what happened, including dates, times, and any witnesses.
- Contact the Organization: Many public authorities have complaints procedures. Reach out to them directly.
- Seek Advice: Instead of contacting Citizens Advice, try Contend’s legal expert chat. Contend’s highly trained AI legal experts will work with you to provide guidance and help you understand and resolve your legal problems.
- Visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC): They provide useful information about discrimination and your rights. Check out their website at www.equalityhumanrights.com.
Understanding your rights is the first step to ensuring you receive fair treatment. If you think you’ve been discriminated against, don’t hesitate to seek help. You have the right to be treated fairly in all public services!
For more info, check out some of our related articles:
- Fight Discrimination: Know Your Rights Under Equality Act 2010
- Understanding Your Rights: Tackling Discrimination in the UK
- Fight Discrimination in the UK: Your Rights Under the Equality Act 2010
- Understanding Your Rights: Navigating the Equality Act 2010 in the UK
- Fight Discrimination in UK Services: Your Rights Under Equality Act 2010
