Race Relations Act 1965: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom |
{{short description|Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom}} |
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{{use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} |
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{{Infobox UK legislation |
{{Infobox UK legislation |
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|parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom |
|parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom |
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|type = Act |
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|statute_book_chapter = 1965 c 73 |
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|long_title = An Act to prohibit discrimination on racial grounds in places of public resort; to prevent the enforcement or imposition on racial grounds of restrictions on the transfer of tenancies; to penalise incitement to racial hatred; and to amend section 5 of the Public Order Act 1936. |
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|introduced_by = |
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|year = 1965 |
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|citation = [[List of acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1965|1965]] c. 73 |
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|introduced_commons = [[Frank Soskice]], [[Home Secretary]] |
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|territorial_extent = |
|territorial_extent = |
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|royal_assent = 8 |
|royal_assent = 8 November 1965 |
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|commencement = |
|commencement = 8 December 1965 |
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|repeal_date = |
|repeal_date = 22 November 1976 |
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|amendments = [[Race Relations Act 1968]] |
|amendments = [[Race Relations Act 1968]] |
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|related_legislation = |
|related_legislation = |
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|repealing_legislation= [[Race Relations Act 1976]] |
|repealing_legislation= [[Race Relations Act 1976]] |
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|status = Repealed |
|status = Repealed |
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|original_text = |
|original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1965/73/pdfs/ukpga_19650073_en.pdf |
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| use_new_UK-LEG = yes |
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|legislation_history = |
|legislation_history = |
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| ⚫ | The |
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| ⚫ | The act outlawed [[discrimination]] on the "grounds of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins" in public places in Great Britain.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/8/newsid_4457000/4457112.stm |title=On this day: 8 December 1965: New UK race law 'not tough enough' |publisher=BBC News | date=8 December 1965 |access-date=10 January 2010}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | It also prompted the creation of the [[Race Relations Board]] in 1966. This would consist of a |
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| ⚫ | It also prompted the creation of the [[Race Relations Board]] in 1966. This would consist of a chairman and two other members appointed by the [[Secretary of State]].<ref name="RRA 1965">{{cite web |title=Race Relations Act 1965 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1965/73/pdfs/ukpga_19650073_en.pdf |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=29 June 2019}}</ref> Its remit was to consider complaints under the Act.<ref name="bbc"/> |
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| ⚫ | The UK saw an influx of economic migrants after [[World War II]], many from [[ |
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| ⚫ | The UK saw an influx of economic migrants after [[World War II]], many from British colonies or former colonies; those from the Caribbean are known as the [[Windrush generation]]. By the time the 1965 bill was introduced, there was a population of almost a million immigrants living in Britain.<ref name="parliament">{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/relationships/collections1/race-relations-act-1965/race-relations-act-1965/|title=Race Relations Act 1965|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 September 2020}}</ref> The [[Museum of London]] states that "casual 'colour prejudice' was part of daily life" for many.<ref name="museum">{{cite web |title=Race Relations Acts 1965-1976 |url=http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/race-relations-acts-1965-1976 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212152734/http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/race-relations-acts-1965-1976 |archive-date=12 December 2012 |access-date=10 January 2010 |publisher=The Museum of London}}</ref> The [[left-wing]] [[Member of Parliament]] [[Fenner Brockway]] had introduced a bill to put a stop to racial discrimination eight times from 1956 to 1964.<ref name="CP Campaign">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Evan |title=The Communist Party's campaign for the Race Relations Act 1965 |url=https://hatfulofhistory.wordpress.com/2015/12/07/the-communist-partys-campaign-for-the-race-relations-act-1965/ |website=Hatful of History |publisher=Evan Smith. |access-date=30 June 2019 |language=en |date=7 December 2015}}</ref> In 1958, London saw the [[Notting Hill riots]],<ref name="museum"/> and in 1963 the [[Bristol Bus Boycott, 1963|Bristol Bus Boycott]] occurred.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/nov/10/race.immigrationpolicy|title=In Praise Of...The Race Relations Acts|last=Editorial|date=10 November 2005|newspaper=The Guardian | location=London |access-date=10 January 2010}}</ref> |
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==Outline== |
==Outline== |
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The act was drafted by Home Secretary [[Frank Soskice]] with some cross-party cooperation.<ref>{{cite book |last= Donnelly |first= Mark |date=2005 |title= Sixties Britain: culture, society and politics |publisher=Routledge |page=115}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The bill was given [[royal assent]] on 8 November 1965 and began to be enforced on 8 December.<ref name="parliament"/> The act made it a civil offence (rather than a [[criminal offence]]) to refuse to serve 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 the offence of "incitement to racial hatred". |
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The first conviction under the act came in October 1967, when a 17-year-old member of the [[National Socialist Movement (UK, 1962)|National Socialist Party]] was found guilty of racial discrimination at [[Middlesex]] Area Sessions.<ref name="bbc"/> The leader of the British National Socialist Movement, [[Colin Jordan]], was also successfully prosecuted under the Act and jailed for 18 months in 1967.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19670126&id=pmNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3637,4009089 |title=Colin Jordan sent to prison for 18 months on Race Act charges |newspaper=Glasgow Herald |date=January 26, 1967 |page=7 |access-date=2016-06-23}}</ref> |
The first conviction under the act came in October 1967, when a 17-year-old member of the [[National Socialist Movement (UK, 1962)|National Socialist Party]] was found guilty of racial discrimination at [[Middlesex]] Area Sessions.<ref name="bbc"/> The leader of the British National Socialist Movement, [[Colin Jordan]], was also successfully prosecuted under the Act and jailed for 18 months in 1967.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19670126&id=pmNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3637,4009089 |title=Colin Jordan sent to prison for 18 months on Race Act charges |newspaper=Glasgow Herald |date=January 26, 1967 |page=7 |access-date=2016-06-23}}</ref> |
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Black immigrants were also tried for this offence including [[Black Power]] leader [[Michael Abdul Malik]] (Michael X) and four members of the [[Universal Coloured People's Association]] for "stirring up racial hatred against white people."<ref>{{Cite |
Black immigrants were also tried for this offence, including [[Black Power]] leader [[Michael Abdul Malik]] (Michael X) and four members of the [[Universal Coloured People's Association]] for "stirring up racial hatred against white people."<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AJHR/1994/15.html |last=Twomey |first=Anne |author-link=Anne Twomey (academic) |title=Laws Against Incitement to Racial Hatred in the United Kingdom|journal=Australian Journal of Human Rights |date=17 April 1994 |volume=1 |pages=235–248 |doi=10.1080/1323238X.1994.11910913 }} (1994) 1(1) Australian Journal of Human Rights 235.</ref> |
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==Limitations== |
==Limitations== |
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The |
The act specifically excluded shops and private [[boarding houses]], only outlawing discrimination in "places of public resort." The Race Relations Board was rather weak in its enforcement capabilities, being limited to conciliation and an assurance not to return to the discriminatory behavior.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/crer/research/publications/research_papers/rp_no.12.pdf|title=The Origins of the Race Relations Act|publisher=University of Warwick|access-date=2020-06-12}}</ref> It was "a weak piece of legislation" and failed to end racial discrimination in the UK fully.<ref name="natarch">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers/themes/discrimination-race-relations-policy.htm|title=Discrimination and race relations policy|publisher=The National Archives|access-date=10 January 2010}}</ref> |
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The act did not apply in Northern Ireland.<ref>See 8(3) of the Act</ref> |
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==Amendment and repeal== |
==Amendment and repeal== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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* |
*[https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/relationships/collections1/race-relations-act-1965/race-relations-act-1965/ 50th Anniversary of the 1965 Race Relations Act - UK Parliament Living Heritage] |
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*{{cite journal|last=Hepple|first=B.A.|year=1966|title=Race Relations Act 1965|journal=Modern Law Review|volume=29|pages= |
*{{cite journal|last=Hepple|first=B.A.|year=1966|title=Race Relations Act 1965|journal=Modern Law Review|volume=29|issue=3 |pages=306–314|jstor=1093572}} |
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{{UK legislation}} |
{{UK legislation}} |
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{{Black British topics}} |
{{Black British topics}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1965]] |
[[Category:United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1965]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:28, 17 April 2024
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to prohibit discrimination on racial grounds in places of public resort; to prevent the enforcement or imposition on racial grounds of restrictions on the transfer of tenancies; to penalise incitement to racial hatred; and to amend section 5 of the Public Order Act 1936. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1965 c. 73 |
| Introduced by | Frank Soskice, Home Secretary (Commons) |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 8 November 1965 |
| Commencement | 8 December 1965 |
| Repealed | 22 November 1976 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Race Relations Act 1968 |
| Repealed by | Race Relations Act 1976 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Race Relations Act 1965 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Race Relations Act 1965 (c. 73) was the first legislation in the United Kingdom to address racial discrimination.
The act outlawed discrimination on the "grounds of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins" in public places in Great Britain.[1]
It also prompted the creation of the Race Relations Board in 1966. This would consist of a chairman and two other members appointed by the Secretary of State.[2] Its remit was to consider complaints under the Act.[1]
Reasons for the act's introduction
[edit]The UK saw an influx of economic migrants after World War II, many from British colonies or former colonies; those from the Caribbean are known as the Windrush generation. By the time the 1965 bill was introduced, there was a population of almost a million immigrants living in Britain.[3] The Museum of London states that "casual 'colour prejudice' was part of daily life" for many.[4] The left-wing Member of Parliament Fenner Brockway had introduced a bill to put a stop to racial discrimination eight times from 1956 to 1964.[5] In 1958, London saw the Notting Hill riots,[4] and in 1963 the Bristol Bus Boycott occurred.[6]
Outline
[edit]The act was drafted by Home Secretary Frank Soskice with some cross-party cooperation.[7]
The bill was given royal assent on 8 November 1965 and began to be enforced on 8 December.[3] The act made it a civil offence (rather than a criminal offence) to refuse to serve 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 the offence of "incitement to racial hatred".
The first conviction under the act came in October 1967, when a 17-year-old member of the National Socialist Party was found guilty of racial discrimination at Middlesex Area Sessions.[1] The leader of the British National Socialist Movement, Colin Jordan, was also successfully prosecuted under the Act and jailed for 18 months in 1967.[8]
Black immigrants were also tried for this offence, including Black Power leader Michael Abdul Malik (Michael X) and four members of the Universal Coloured People's Association for "stirring up racial hatred against white people."[9]
Limitations
[edit]The act specifically excluded shops and private boarding houses, only outlawing discrimination in "places of public resort." The Race Relations Board was rather weak in its enforcement capabilities, being limited to conciliation and an assurance not to return to the discriminatory behavior.[10] It was "a weak piece of legislation" and failed to end racial discrimination in the UK fully.[11] The act did not apply in Northern Ireland.[12]
Amendment and repeal
[edit]The Act was strengthened with the Race Relations Act 1968, which extended the legislation's remit to cover employment and housing. It was repealed by the Race Relations Act 1976, which saw the creation of the Commission for Racial Equality.[1]
See also
[edit]
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d "On this day: 8 December 1965: New UK race law 'not tough enough'". BBC News. 8 December 1965. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ^ "Race Relations Act 1965" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Race Relations Act 1965". UK Parliament. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Race Relations Acts 1965-1976". The Museum of London. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ^ Smith, Evan (7 December 2015). "The Communist Party's campaign for the Race Relations Act 1965". Hatful of History. Evan Smith. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ Editorial (10 November 2005). "In Praise Of...The Race Relations Acts". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ^ Donnelly, Mark (2005). Sixties Britain: culture, society and politics. Routledge. p. 115.
- ^ "Colin Jordan sent to prison for 18 months on Race Act charges". Glasgow Herald. 26 January 1967. p. 7. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ Twomey, Anne (17 April 1994). "Laws Against Incitement to Racial Hatred in the United Kingdom". Australian Journal of Human Rights. 1: 235–248. doi:10.1080/1323238X.1994.11910913. (1994) 1(1) Australian Journal of Human Rights 235.
- ^ "The Origins of the Race Relations Act" (PDF). University of Warwick. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Discrimination and race relations policy". The National Archives. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ^ See 8(3) of the Act
References
[edit]- 50th Anniversary of the 1965 Race Relations Act - UK Parliament Living Heritage
- Hepple, B.A. (1966). "Race Relations Act 1965". Modern Law Review. 29 (3): 306–314. JSTOR 1093572.
