Discriminatory Abuse

What is discriminatory abuse?

Discrimination is abuse that focuses on a difference or perceived difference.  Discriminatory abuse may involve race, gender, disability, or any of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act.

Examples of discriminatory abuse might involve harassment, slurs, or similar treatment based on the difference or perceived difference.

Discrimination and UK Law

In UK law, it’s illegal to discriminate against anyone based on these protected characteristics:

  • Age
  • Gender reassignment
  • Marriage status (including civil partnerships)
  • Being pregnant or on maternity leave
  • Disability
  • Race (including skin colour, nationality, or a person’s ethnic or national origin)
  • Religious belief
  • Sex, and sexual orientation

People are legally protected from discrimination in the following settings:

  • At work and in education
  • As a consumer (i.e. while shopping)
  • When using public services
  • When buying or renting property
  • As a member or guest of a private club or organisation.

You’re also protected from discrimination if you’re associated with someone who has a protected characteristic, for example a family member or friend. The law is also on your side if you’ve complained about discrimination, or supported someone else’s claim.

What Does Discriminatory Abuse Look Like?

Discrimination may take a number of forms. Here are some examples:

  • Direct Discrimination. Treating someone with a protected characteristic less favourably than others.
  • Indirect Discrimination. Putting rules or arrangements in place that apply to everyone, but that put someone with a protected characteristic at an unfair disadvantage.
  • Harassment. Unwanted behaviour linked to a protected characteristic that violates someone’s dignity or creates a hostile environment for them.
  • Victimisation. Treating someone unfairly because they’ve complained about discrimination or harassment.

Discrimination can happen at work, on the streets, or even in an environment that’s supposed to be “safe”, such as a school or a care home.

Signs of Discriminatory Abuse

Potential indicators that someone is experiencing Discriminatory Abuse include:

  • withdrawing and being isolated
  • fearfulness and anxiety
  • being refused access to services or being excluded inappropriately
  • resistance or refusal to access services that are required to meet assessed needs

Some examples are:

  • unequal treatment based on e.g. disability, age (protected characteristics);
  • verbal abuse, derogatory remarks or inappropriate use of language related to a protected characteristic;
  • lack of effective communication provision, for example, interpretation
  • Harassment or deliberate exclusion on the grounds of a protected characteristic
  • Below standard service provided relating to a protected characteristic

Getting Support

If you have a safeguarding concern about an adult who you feel is suffering from discriminatory abuse, or is at risk of being so (or any other form of abuse), please complete the on-line referral form (linked below):

Contact Information

If you need to speak to someone about your referral, please call:

Tel:  020 8708 7333 (Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00) – choosing Option 2;  or 020 8553 5825 (Evenings and weekends).

E-mail:  adults.alert@redbridge.gov.uk

If there is immediate risk, or in an emergency, contact the Police on 999.