Reporting Racial Incidents

Why does the Council want to know about racial incidents?

We recognise that we have a legal duty to maintain a workplace and provide services so that everyone, regardless of race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origin is treated with dignity and respect.

Reporting racial incidents is an important part of the process and supports our Valuing Diversity Policy.

What is a Racial Incident?

This definition below was developed as a result of the 1999 Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. We have adopted this definition and will use it as the first point of assessment in relation to any reported incident:

Racial incidents include:

• verbal racist abuse
• threatening or intimidating remarks about a person's race
• racially motivated assault
• sending racist material through the post
• racially motivated damage to property

What racial incidents should I report to the Council?

Racial incidents involving Council tenants 

If an Oxford City Coucnil tenant or leaseholder has been subjected to racial abuse by another tenant, the incident may be reported to your Estate Manager. Your Estate Managers details can be found using the search on the Tenancy and Estate Management page.

Racial incidents involving employees

Our position is that it is unacceptable for a service user or potential service user to refuse service from a particular Council employee on the basis of his or her race, or subject an employee to racial abuse. We will take action in support of our employees under these circumstances.

Racial incidents involving service users

If you feel you have been treated unfairly and without respect, and this is due to your race, colour or ethnic origin, you have the right to complain either in person or in writing to the people providing the service.

How to I report a racial incident to the Council?

Anyone wanting to report a racial incident to the Council has the following options open to them:

• in person at a local housing officer
• by requesting a racial incident form (RH1) from any Council office
• calling the Racism Action Line on 01865 791891

For further information please contact:

Page last reviewed 5 Nov 2008