Ethnic minorities twice as likely to face discrimination accessing local services

People from ethnic minorities are twice as likely to face discrimination when using in local services, according to a new survey.

The survey for a new report by the RSA found 52% of Asian and 50% of black respondents have faced discrimination when accessing local services – compared to 19% of the white population.

In addition, 59% say they have suffered discrimination when accessing local services in the past, versus 33% for those who are not.

The report also finds that ethnic minority groups have been worse impacted by Covid.

It found minority groups have struggled to access government support.

Almost half (46%) of Asian respondents, 41% of those with mixed ethnic backgrounds and 39% of Black respondents say they have struggled or been unable to access government support, despite being eligible for it.

These issues are compounded by issues with living space and caring responsibilities. Asian, Mixed and Black respondents are twice as likely to say that they have struggled during the pandemic due to a lack of space at home than White respondents.

The researchers also heard that specialist public services helped address language, cultural and other barriers to people accessing services during the pandemic, which were often popular but under huge pressure due to austerity.

‘The evidence from our research casts serious doubt on the idea that institutional racism is not an issue in the UK,’ said the RSA’s chief research and impact officer, Anthony Painter.

‘People from ethnic minorities are much more likely to have experienced discrimination in public services, and we saw some evidence that this is linked to “vaccine hesitancy”.

‘Too often, we talk about why ethnic minorities are less likely to trust those delivering public services, which puts the onus on those communities, rather than serious service failings,’ added Mr Painter.

‘In the future, public services also need to look beyond “engagement” or “outreach” with ethnic minority groups, and instead look at the systemic and institutional reasons they are not trusted.

‘We need to reinvent public services to work around their communities they serve. This means devolving more power locally, funding public services adequately, and creating more spaces for citizens to collaborate with one another.’

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