Race Relations Act 1976

1976 c.74 · 114 provisions

An Act to make fresh provision with respect to discrimination on racial grounds and relations between people of different racial groups; and to make in the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 amendments for bringing provisions in that Act relating to its administration and enforcement into conformity with the corresponding provisions in this Act.

Part I: Discrimination To Which Act Applies

Section 1: Racial discrimination.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 2: Discrimination by way of victimisation.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 3: Meaning of “racial grounds", “racial group" etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 3A: HarassmentRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part II: Discrimination in the Employment Field

Section 4: . . . applicants and employees.Revoked (revoked 1998-03-02)
Section 4A: Exception for genuine occupational requirementRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 5: Exceptions for genuine occupational qualifications.Revoked (revoked 1998-03-02)
Section 6: Exception for employment intended to provide training in skills to be exercised outside Great Britain.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 7: . . . contract workers.Revoked (revoked 1998-03-02)
Section 8: Meaning of employment at establishment in Great Britain.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 9: Exception for seamen recruited abroad.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 10: Partnerships.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 11: Trade unions etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 12: Qualifying bodies.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 13: Persons concerned with provision of vocational training.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 14: Employment agencies.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 15: Manpower Services Commission etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 16: Police.Repealed (repealed 2001-04-02)

Part III: Discrimination in other fields

Section 17: . . . bodies in charge of educational establishments.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 17A: Meaning of pupil in section 17.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 18: Other discrimination etc. by local education authorities.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 18A: Discrimination by further and higher education funding bodiesRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 18B: . . . Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Councils.Repealed (repealed 2005-10-03)
Section 18BA: Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding CouncilRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 18C: Discrimination by Funding Agency for Schools or Schools Funding Council for Wales.Repealed (repealed 1999-09-01)
Section 18D: . . . Training and Development Agency for Schools.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 19: General duty in public sector of education.Repealed (repealed 2001-04-02)
Section 19A: Discrimination by planning authorities.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 19B: . . . public authorities.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 19C: Exceptions or further exceptions from section 19B for judicial and legislative acts etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 19D: Exception from section 19B for certain acts in immigration and nationality cases.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 19E: Monitoring of exception in relation to immigration and nationality cases.Repealed (repealed 2008-04-01)
Section 19F: Exceptions from section 19B for decisions not to prosecute etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 19ZA: General duty: post-16 education and training etc.Repealed (repealed 2001-04-02)
Section 20: . . . provision of goods, facilities or services.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 21: . . . disposal or management of premises.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 22: Exception from ss. 20(1) and 21: small dwellings.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 23: Further exceptions from ss 20 and 21.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 24: . . . consent for assignment or sub-letting.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 25: Discrimination: associations not within s. 11.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 26: Exception from s. 25 for certain associations.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 26A: . . . barristers.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 26B: . . . advocates.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 27: Extent of Part III.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part IV: Other Unlawful Acts

Section 27A: Relationships which have come to an endRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 28: Discriminatory practices.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 29: Discriminatory advertisements.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 30: Instructions to commit unlawful acts.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 31: Pressure to commit unlawful acts.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 32: Liability of employers and principals.Revoked (revoked 1998-03-02)
Section 33: Aiding unlawful acts.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part V: Charities

Section 34: Charities.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part VI: General Exceptions From Parts II to IV

Section 35: Special needs of racial groups in regard to education, training or welfare.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 36: Provision of education or training for persons not ordinarily resident in Great Britain.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 37: Discriminatory training by certain bodies.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 38: Other discriminatory training etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 39: Sports and competitions.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 40: Indirect access to benefits etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 41: Acts done under statutory authority etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 42: Acts safeguarding national security.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part VII: The Commission for Racial Equality

Section 43: Establishment and duties of Commission.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 44: Assistance to organisations.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 45: Research and education.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 46: Annual reports.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 47: Codes of practice.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 48: Power to conduct formal investigations.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 49: Terms of reference.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 50: Power to obtain information.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 51: Recommendations and reports on formal investigations.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 52: Restriction on disclosure of information.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part VIII: Enforcement

Section 53: Restriction of proceedings for breach of Act.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 54: Jurisdiction of employment tribunals.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 54A: Burden of proof: employment tribunalsRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 55: Burden of proof: employment tribunalsRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 56: Remedies on complaint under s. 54.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 57: Claims under Part III etc..Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 57A: Claims under section 19B in immigration cases.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 57ZA: Burden of proof : County and Sheriff CourtsRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 58: Issue of non-discrimination notice.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 59: Appeal against non-discrimination notice.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 60: Investigation as to compliance with non-discrimination notice.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 61: Register of non-discrimination notices.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 62: Persistent discrimination.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 63: Enforcement of ss. 29 to 31.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 64: Preliminary action in employment cases.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 65: Help for aggrieved persons in obtaining information etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 66: Assistance by Commission.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 67: Sheriff courts and designated county courts.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 67A: National security: procedure.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 68: Period within which proceedings to be brought.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 69: Evidence.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

Part IX: Incitement to Racial Hatred

Section 70: Incitement to racial hatredOmitted (omitted)

Part X: Supplemental

Section 71: Specified authorities: general statutory duty.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 71A: General statutory duty: special cases.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 71B: General statutory duty: Scotland and Wales.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 71C: General statutory duty: codes of practice.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 71D: General statutory duty: compliance notices.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 71E: Enforcement of compliance notices.Repealed (repealed 2007-10-01)
Section 72: Validity and revision of contracts.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 72A: Collective agreements and rules of undertakingsRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 72B: Collective agreements and rules of undertakingsRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 73: Power to amend certain provisions of Act.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 74: Orders and regulations.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 75: Application to Crown etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 75A: Application to House of Commons staff.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 75B: Application to House of Lords staff.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 76: Government appointments outside s. 4.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 76A: Police forces.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 76B: Other police bodies etc.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 76ZA: Other office holdersRepealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 77: Financial provisions.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 78: General interpretation provisions.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 79: Transitional and commencement provisions, amendments and repeals.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)
Section 80: Short title and extent.Repealed (repealed 2010-10-01)

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.