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Race Relations Act 1965

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation
1965 c 73
Dates
Royal assent
8 December 1965
Other legislation
Amended by
Race Relations Act 1968
Repealed by
Race Relations Act 1976
Status: Repealed
The Race Relations Act 1965 was the first legislation in the United Kingdom to a
ddress racial discrimination.
The Act outlawed discrimination on the "grounds of colour, race, or ethnic or na
tional origins" in public places.[1]
It also prompted the creation of The Race Relations Board (in 1966), to consider
complaints under the Act.[1]
Contents [hide]
1
Reasons for the Act's introduction
2
Outline
3
Limitations
4
Amendment and repeal
5
See also
6
Notes
7
References
Reasons for the Act's introduction[edit]
The UK saw an influx of economic migrants after World War II, many from the Comm
onwealth countries. The Museum of London states that "casual colour prejudice was
part of daily life" for many.[2] In 1958, London saw the Notting Hill riots,[2]
and in 1963 the Bristol Bus Boycott occurred.[3]
Outline[edit]
The Act made it a civil offence (rather than a criminal offence) to refuse to se
rve a person, to serve someone with unreasonable delay, or to overcharge, on the
grounds of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins. The Act also created th
e offense of "incitement to racial hatred."
The first conviction under the act came in October 1967, when a 17-year-old memb
er of the National Socialist Party was found guilty of racial discrimination at
Middlesex Area Sessions.[1] The leader of the British National Socialist Movemen
t, John Colin Campbell Gordon was also successfully prosecuted under the Act and
jailed for 18 months in 1967.[4]
Black immigrants were also tried for this offence including Black Power leader M
ichael Abdul Malik and four members of the Universal Coloured People's Associati
on for "stirring up racial hatred against white people."[5]
Limitations[edit]
The Act did not extend to Northern Ireland, and specifically excluded shops and
private boarding houses,[1] only outlawing discrimination in "places of public r
esort." The Race Relations Board was rather weak in its enforcement capabilities
, being limited to conciliation and an assurance not to return to the discrimina
tory behavior.[6] It was "a weak piece of legislation"[7] and failed to end raci
al discrimination in the UK fully.[7]
Amendment and repeal[edit]
The Act was strengthened with the Race Relations Act 1968, which extended the le

gislation's remit to cover employment and housing. It was repealed by the Race R
elations Act 1976, which saw the creation of the Commission for Racial Equality.
[1]
See also[edit]
1960s portal
UK employment discrimination law
Charter v Race Relations Board [1973] AC 868
Racism in the United Kingdom
Notes[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b c d e "On this day: 8 December 1965: New UK race law 'not toug
h enough'". BBC. 8 December 1965. Retrieved 10 January 2010. Check date values i
n: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
^ Jump up to: a b "Race Relations Acts 1965-1976". The Museum of London. Retriev
ed 10 January 2010.
Jump up ^ Editorial (10 November 2005). "In Praise Of...The Race Relations Acts"
. London: The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January hello 2010. line feed character in
|accessdate= at position 17 (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
Jump up ^ "Glasgow Herald - January 26, 1967". Retrieved 2016-06-23.
Jump up ^ "Twomey, Anne --- "Laws Against Incitement to Racial Hatred in the Uni
ted Kingdom" [1994] AUJlHRights 15; (1994) 1(1) Australian Journal of Human Righ
ts 235". www.austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
Jump up ^ "The Origins of the Race Relations Act Philip N. Sooben Research Paper
in Ethnic Relations No.12 Centre for Research in Ethnic Re" (PDF). webcache.goo
gleusercontent.com. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
^ Jump up to: a b "Discrimination and race relations policy". The National Archi
ves. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
References[edit]
Hepple, B.A. (1966). "Race Relations Act 1965". Modern Law Review 29: 806. JSTOR
1093572.
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Categories: United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1965Anti-discrimination law in the
United KingdomBlack British historyRace relations in the United Kingdomas