PSO 2800 - Inside Time

PSO 2800 Annexes – Page 5CHAPTER 2 – LEGAL OBLIGATIONS2.1 This section sets out the personal and corporate responsibilities of Prison Service staffunder the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.Background: The Race Relations Act 1976 (1976 Act)2.2 The 1976 Act outlawed discrimination on racial grounds in employment, training, housing,education, and the provision of goods, facilities and services. However, a narrowinterpretation of „services‟ meant that many public functions were not covered.The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 – RR(A)A 20002.3. The RR(A)A 2000 introduced a range of positive duties on public authorities. Theobligations that it places on the Prison Service are:the general duty to:(a) eliminate unlawful racial discrimination;(b) promote race equality;(c) promote good relations between people of different racial groups;the specific duties to publish a Race Equality Scheme that sets out which of our functionsand policies are relevant to race equality and how we will:(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)assess and consult on the likely impact of proposed policies on thepromotion of race equality;monitor our policies for any adverse impact on the promotion of raceequality;publish the results of our impact assessments, consultation and monitoringto show how we have taken account of race equality issues in makingpolicies;ensure public access to information about services, functions and activities;train our staff to carry out the general and specific duties.We also have a specific duty relating to the treatment and employment of staff that requires us tomonitor how our employment practices affect staff of all racial groups within the Prison Service.Prison Service Race Equality Scheme (RES)2.4 The Prison Service Race Equality Scheme (RES) is an Associate Scheme of theoverarching Home Office Race Equality Scheme. It is published every three years and setsout what the Prison Service will do to meet the general and specific duties.2.5. An annual report on progress on the measures set out in the RES is published.Responsibilities of Staff2.6. All staff in the Prison Service are bound by the general and specific duties set out in theAct, whether they are involved in policy development, service delivery or the provision ofsupport services. The duties apply also to agency staff and staff on secondment from otherorganisations as well as those working for other companies, contractors or voluntary andcommunity groups providing services within prisons.2.7. It is the duty of every member of staff to work to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination, topromote race equality and to promote good relations between people of different racialgroups. This must be demonstrated as a fundamental, integral part of the daily work of allmembers of staff.Issue No. 264 issue date 25/09/06