Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Act does not apply to:

• the work of the Houses of Parliament or the security services
• judicial or legislative acts and decisions not to prosecute
• certain immigration and nationality functions where discrimination is permitted on grounds of nationality or ethnic or national origin

Additional areas outside the scope of the Act

The following areas are also outside the scope of the Race Relations Act:

• anything written, produced or broadcast by the media — the law of libel applies only to individuals, not to groups of people
• anything done under 'statutory authority' in order to comply with an Act of Parliament (whenever it was passed), or rules or regulations made by a government minister under any law; for example, a parent's choice of school may be racially discriminatory, but quite lawful under the education laws
• racist attacks or harassment on the street or in your home; these could be criminal offences and should be reported to the police.
• discrimination that occurs in other countries of the EU; however, many countries have their own laws against racial discrimination. The EU race directive, approved in June 2000, required all EU countries to introduce laws outlawing racial discrimination by July 2003.