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Public sector duties

Public authorities have a range of duties under the Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995. When carrying out their functions, they must have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity.

Increasingly, the higher courts are requiring authorities to reconsider key decisions where no risk assessment was carried out before going ahead.

When the proposed Single Equality Act, currently under consultation, is finally passed, there is very likely to be a single equality duty which will also cover age, religion and sexual orientation.

Increasingly, emphasis will be placed on the practical carrying out of the duties rather than simply getting the paperwork in order.

For workshops to help managers and staff understand how to carry out risk assessments in a meaningful sense, contact us.