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CI (2001)2: Race Relations (Amendment) Act: Implementation and consultation plans

The Race Relations (Amendment) Act, which has its origins in the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, became law at the beginning of December 2000. Its main provisions: outlaw race discrimination in all public functions - not just those previously covered by the Race Relations Act 1976; place both general and specific duties on specified authorities to promote race equality; cover private sector bodies to the extent that they are discharging public functions; give powers to the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) to enforce specific duties imposed on public authorities. The purpose of this letter is to: highlight what is new about the law; underlines the need for Social Services to take action to challenge racial discrimination and promote race equality; sets out what Social Services should be doing to prepare for the new legal obligations.

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