Race equality impact assessment

What is a race equality impact assesment? A race equality impact assessment is a way of systematically and thoroughly assessing, and consulting on, the effects that a proposed policy is likely to have on people, depending on their racial group. Why do a race equality impact assessment? Policies do not affect everyone in the same way. You will need to make sure at an early stage of their development that they will not have unfavourable effects on some groups, or at least take steps to mitigate these effects. Who should do a race equality impact assessment? All public authorities bound by the specific duty to produce and publish a race equality scheme must make arrangements to assess their proposed policies for any effects they might have on meeting the three parts of the race equality duty.When to do a race equality impact assessment This page looks at which policies should be assessed, the difference between a policy and a decision, and considers whether policies designed to tackle the adverse effects of current policies shoudl also be assessed. How to do a race equality impact assessment A race equality impact assessment should be carried out in two stages - the first involves screening a proposed policy to see if it is relevant to the race equality duty, and the second consists of eight distinct procedures, involves detailed analysis and assessment of the proposals as they are being developed Race equality impact assessment: frequently-asked questions Frequently-asked questions about race equality impact assessments - one of the specific duties placed on public authorities by the statutory duty to promote race equalityFlowchart for race equality impact assessments This flowchart tool is designed to help public authorities understand and carry out the different stages involved in race equality impact assessmentRace equality impact assessment: Current practice The examples you will find on this page illustrate different aspects of the race equality impact assessment process.Race equality impact assessment: Publications Race equality impact assessment: useful publications from the CRE and other organisationsRace equality impact assessment : Statistics Statistical and research information will help you assess the differential impact that a proposed policy might have on people from different racial groups. This page links to statistics on population, housing, criminal justice, education, health care services and the labour market.

Home Office: regulatory impact assessments

What is a race equality scheme, and what should it include?

When should you review your race equality scheme?

Your duty as an employer

Race equality duty code of practice (PDF 442.5 KB)
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Race equality duty code of practice (RTF 406.1 KB)
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A Guide for Public Authorities (PDF 588.9 KB)
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A Guide for Public Authorities (RTF 584.4 KB)
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This page was last updated on 03 August 2006

Specific duties for public authorities

Race equality impact assessment: a step-by-step guide

The purpose of a race equality impact assessment is to work out how a policy or legislative proposal will affect people from different racial groups.

The aim of this site is to give policy-makers a step-by-step guide to carrying out a race equality impact assessment.

Here, you will find the answers to five questions:

The flowchart shows the steps you will need to take to decide if a proposed policy is relevant to race equality, and, if it is, to make sure it is not likely to have any adverse effects on different racial groups.

Flowchart

The Statistics section contains published data from a number of sources, including the Office of National Statistics, on areas such as population, health, employment, education and housing. You may find this useful when carrying out a race equality impact assessment.

Statistics

The Resources section contains a list of publications related to the duty, and links to contact details and websites of useful organisations.

Resources

Explanations of terms used within this guide can be found in the glossary.

Glossary

The advice on these pages may be adapted to anticipate the effects a policy might have on other forms of equality, such as gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, or disability.

Assessments published by the CRE

Alongside our own race equality scheme, the CRE has published race equality impact assessments on our new and proposed policies. Click on the link below to find out more.

The CRE's race equality scheme 2005-08

This guidance has been produced by the CRE in consultation with a Home Office cross-Whitehall user group and a CRE-led public authority advisory group.

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