What Counts as Racist Behaviour?
Racist behaviour is identified when someone treats you differently because of your race, colour, nationality, citizenship, or ethnic or national origins. This includes direct harassment, verbal abuse, threats, or being treated unfairly compared to others. You can also experience racial discrimination if someone believes you belong to a particular race or nationality, even when you do not.
The law draws a distinction between racial discrimination and religious discrimination, though the two can overlap. Courts have recognised certain groups as having both ethnic and religious characteristics. Romany Gypsies, Irish Travellers, Jewish people and Sikhs are protected under race discrimination laws. Muslims and Rastafarians are primarily protected under religious discrimination laws, though racial discrimination protections may also apply where religion and ethnicity are closely linked and perceived together.
From a neighbour, racist behaviour might take many forms. Verbal abuse, offensive language, racist jokes or comments, damage to property, intimidation, or threats are all examples. It can also be more subtle: persistent unfair treatment, being excluded from shared spaces, or being reported to authorities without good reason. If the behaviour is motivated by your race or perceived race, it may be unlawful.
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The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of race. This applies to housing, services, and many everyday situations. If your neighbour's behaviour amounts to harassment, you have legal options.
Harassment under the Equality Act means unwanted conduct related to race that violates your dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. This is a civil matter, and you may be able to take action through the county court. Where the harassment relates to employment, claims would be brought to an Employment Tribunal instead.
If the behaviour is more serious, criminal law may apply. Racially aggravated offences carry heavier penalties than their non-aggravated equivalents. Under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, offences such as assault, harassment, criminal damage and public order offences are treated more seriously when motivated by racial hostility. The police can investigate and the Crown Prosecution Service can bring charges.
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 also applies. If your neighbour's behaviour amounts to a course of conduct that causes you alarm or distress, this may constitute harassment regardless of whether it is racially motivated. Two or more incidents are usually required to establish a pattern.
Your local council may also have powers to act. Many councils treat racist behaviour as antisocial behaviour and can issue warnings, community protection notices, or take action against tenants in social housing. If your neighbour is a council or housing association tenant, their landlord may be able to take action for breach of tenancy conditions.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
What You Can Do
Keep a record of every incident. Write down dates, times, the exact words spoken or actions taken, and any witnesses. If there is physical evidence such as graffiti or damaged property, take photographs before anything is cleaned or repaired. This evidence will be useful whether you report to the police, the council, or pursue a civil claim.
Report the behaviour to the police. You should report any hate incident, not only those where you feel threatened or believe a crime has been committed. Police guidance encourages reporting all racially motivated incidents so they can be properly recorded and investigated. You can report in person at a police station, by calling 101 for non-emergencies, or online through your local force's website. In an emergency, call 999. The police will record what you report as either a hate incident or a hate crime based on specific legal criteria, including whether the conduct meets the threshold for a criminal offence.
You can also report to your local council's antisocial behaviour team. They may be able to mediate, issue warnings, or take enforcement action. If your neighbour rents from a housing association or the council, contact the landlord directly as well.
Consider contacting a support organisation. Victim Support offers free and confidential help to anyone affected by crime or antisocial behaviour, including racist incidents. Citizens Advice can explain your options and help you understand your rights. The Equality Advisory Support Service provides advice on discrimination and can help you decide whether to make a formal complaint or take legal action.
If you want to take civil action, you may wish to get legal advice. A solicitor can assess whether you have a claim under the Equality Act or the Protection from Harassment Act. Legal aid may be available for some harassment cases, though eligibility is limited and depends on your financial circumstances and the nature of the claim. Speak to a legal adviser to confirm whether you qualify.
Looking After Yourself
Experiencing racist behaviour from a neighbour can be stressful and upsetting. You do not have to deal with this alone. Speaking to someone you trust, whether a friend, family member or support service, can help.
If the situation affects your mental health, your GP can offer support or refer you to appropriate services. Organisations such as Mind provide information and support for anyone experiencing mental health difficulties.
Under the Equality Act 2010 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, you have legal protections against harassment and discrimination in your home and neighbourhood. Racist behaviour from a neighbour may give rise to civil claims, criminal prosecution, or enforcement action by local authorities. For detailed guidance on hate crime and how to report it, visit the GOV.UK website or speak to your local police force.
Immigrants that play the racist card are not doing themselves any favours other than increasing distance, suspicion and non acceptance from native brits, leading to polarisation. This country is rapidly becoming a very tense and unpleasant place to live. This cultural disaster is entirely the governments terrible ownership. The real tragedy of all this is that this was all totally avoidable had the quality, numbers, and management of migrants been better handled.
If you have a racist neighbour your property will lose value.
One more thing the Europeans don't care about your rights in Africa & have murdered you in your billions over the past 2023 years,
2024 will be no different.
The police will continue to protect racist and join racist groups across the UK, America, Australia & New Zealand.
Victim support don't support victims of racist hate crimes.
Steve Lawrence for example.
The Mayhill Riot, Swansea another.
The 1919 Race Riots in England & Wales.
The Human Zoo's.
Peace and tranquility isn't a gift people.
The Boar Wars 26 concentration camps more died in Africans than in WWII by the Germans.
The UK didn't get rich by hard work, but from racism, this is our history.
The Germans copied what we did in South Africa. #Black Lives don't Matter.
It's a difficult choice to make, no one should be driven out, but unfortunately some people can turn, even for no reason and declare war on you. The only person that can make the call is you.
I would personally move.
At first, I thought I was not sure whether I was actually being discriminated. The ‘funny looks’ and cursing I thought I was just overhearing her talking about me. I also talk to the neighbor who lives across from my unit, checking in to see if the neighbors or any one was troubled during my move and mentioned about the women who is been cursing me, my kids since my move.
The women upstairs would yell at me and my kids saying that you people F smell, you people f stink, you f people smell like poop. She continued to disturb our peace where she would start sweeping the patio if we are sitting on the patio or she would bang the floor at 2:30 am and yell vulgar slurs. When she comes home she sprays air freshener out at the stairs and yell vulgar racist slurs.
I was afraid to leave my daughter at home she was scared of all the banging from upstairs as the women will hurt her, so I started taking notes on when, how often and where the racism happened. she is yelling and banging on the floor would try to even capture on the video if I could.
I finally reported this to the new complex manager, and I told him that me and my family are being threatened , he responds back quote You can contact police anytime if you'll be physically attacked.
Why wouldn't he tell me to contact the police no matter what, if some one is threatening you.
Then the same day I came home and the sound proofing is back, the smell of new sound proofing is filling my unit, this is how I know they just put new sound proofing back.
I am right now shaking while writing this because I'm so scared. Scared for my life.
Please help, I live alone and don't know what to do or how or where to report this.
Please help I live in etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
We had this other neighbour on the left who at first were passively racist. They started doing petty things like parking in the space in front of our house. So we decided to put cones in front of our house so they didn't park there, but after the first day, they moved those cones to the alley where all the bins were. I got pissed then my mother put a piece of paper saying ‘WHY!’ on their car and they shouted at my mother. My blood was boiling but I stayed silent. I wanted to puncture their guts. Then they continued parking in front of our house and moving our cones which are not even on the road but in front of our house. I never spoke to them.
Then today they decided to be petty and took our recycling bin and even scrub off writing that said our house number. My mother was infuriated and I was too. The bin was in front of their door and my mother just took it. One of the neighbours came out and said ‘What are you doing?!’ and started cursing at my mother. I got so enraged that I finally talked back and they said ‘Teach your child some manners’ and we went back into our house.
I wanted to say so much more but I didn't. My mother did too but she can't speak English well.
Now I'm suspecting that they were the ones who spray-painted our door since they're the only blatantly racist people. I want to report them but we have no camera or proof.
So now I decided to sit down and share my experience.
what can I do to stop all this,
We regularly attend Church, several Senior Army Officers’ with who I have served attend Church & reside in the neighbourhood. My wife recently when talking to a friend from Church warned that our neighbour was making unwarranted remarks about us especially me – I am the only coloured & Jewish person in the neighbourhood. Until the Pandemic struck, both my wife & I worked long days…for me a daily commute to Town & my wife, to the NHS Hospital Swindon. Since the enforcement of the pandemic restrictions, I have been working from home except when face-to-face meetings require me to travel. My wife throughout the pandemic has continued to work in the Community & NHS Hospital.
We have never approached nor confronted our neighbour regarding her innuendos, she has also placed notes through our letterbox; one such note stated “…people like us are not welcomed in this neighbourhood…”. I was astounded to read its contents and destroyed the note. We never sent a rebuttal or questioned her of the note’s unsavoury contents. A second note, which I have kept, where the neighbour admits to eavesdropping when my wife & I are having private conversations in the garden. This is very unneighbourly & rather alarming that our neighbour purposefully eavesdrops in our private/intimate conversations. She habitually repeats our private conversations in the neighbourhood. This is very disturbing & distasteful.
I engaged at great cost a Lawyer to stop my neighbour from the continued unwarranted barrage of defamatory remarks but alas, the neighbour completely disregards my Lawyers letters. My neighbour continues to damage my reputation for which I am unable to do anything...her racist behaviour is distasteful & believe my neighbour to be an uneducated, sad & lonely individual seeking attention...what an awful person!
I reported this awful sad, lonely neighbour to the Police, as a last resort, alas, the Police whilst acknowledging my complaint have done nothing...we are now forced to move away from our Cottage.
I am ashamed to be white English. To the Romanian lady saying she bought a house in a council estate, I am sorry to say, I live on a council estate and I can agree there seems to be an underbelly of socially inept, ignorant people in these places.
They are a hot bed of rascism and alcoholism and abuse, obviously not all, but I live in Norris Green, Liverpool and it is the case. Most white English live on benefits and feel entitled. They cannot understand how someone from another country can get a job, work hard and buy a house or a car. Yet, if they worked they could do the same.
I apologise to everyone here for the animalistic behaviour of some horrible white English people.
I am not like them. I like to thi k they are a minority but it seems not. Or if they are, they live in groups.
Peace be with you all. X
Last year me and my husband, both Romanians, bought a lovely house in a council area houses.
From day 1 we heard talking about us, literally while moving, we not even had a word with them before. Time passed and we were busy enough working long shifts from home, and doing small renovations in our free time.
The kids from the area ( loads of kids from small age to 10-11) in first few weeks after moving , throwed with eggs in our cars and house windows, than with mud in the back windows, than.with stones, and then started to play ball in the outside wall(aka living room wall) with a golf ball?!? Few times went outside and explained them that is not nice to play ball in my living room wall as I live there and working from home and specially with a golf ball. All the time politely and calm, not even raised the voice...and now... because we told them not to play ball in the wall we started to receive 'the look' and we could hear them again calling us names and swearing us.
As we are working both from home, both our cars are almost all time parked in front of the house, in a designed car parking area, and things started to happen. My husband's rear wiper car was took off and broke; after I've washed my car, next day, the top was full of mustard,mayo and bacon...and yesterday my husband's car was vandalized with fence paint. Most of my lady neighbors were home, outside having a daily chit chat - kids all around in the area, all going back and forwards around the car while I was vacuuming inside the car that was vandalised; could hear them laughing and their comments. At one point after I finished vacuuming wanted to.wash it a bit too, when I've seen the fence paint on my white car over the front.... I usually don't confront people but this time, went to ask, as they were all this time out, if they saw any of their kids playing with paint as someone just throw paint on my car while vacuuming inside and immediately 2 of the so called ladies started to scream that wasn't them, call me names and saying f***ing Romanians, go back from where you camed, if you had money to buy the house, paint your car...and they didn't stopped for at least 2 hours mocking me...swearing,even kids calling me names and trying to intimidate me. When finally realized it's me against them, they see us as an intruder in this community of them,it was too late, they literally started to talk loud,scream and do a show on the street. I'm thinking of putting a complain about it, but I'm too afraid to do so... Besides I'm stressed, terrified now, I'm also afraid to go outside :(
Everytime I've done garden work I could hear them talking about us, and swearing.
Tomorrow cctv cameras will be installed and hopefully they will leave us alone. Unfortunately police is useless, they still think they can sort out these type of situation just talking with them :(
We have lived at this property in Greenwich Borough for last 10 years and I am sad to say we have been racially abused and harassed by our neighbours.
From the day we moved into the property our neighbour did not like us for us being brown skin.
Anytime we would try to do diy or fix this old property during the permitted times she would shout abuse over the wall.
On one ocassion on a sunny summer day when we were in our front garden , husband and wife started arguing with us by saying we make too much noise and got so aggressive that he came over towards us saying "You f**** p****". Police were called and they have suggested we can arrest the person. We have thought he is an old person and giving him causion will make them understand the situation. But i would say people think they beling to this country more than you do or you ever will.
This abuse continued over the years during birth of our two childred and loss of a young brother in law. They did not care about anything and continued with shouting and banging on partition wall for anything they tought to be noise. Sometime noise being made by vehicle moving in the roads. We are at the breaking point now after being accused falsely on at least 60-80 times to council and no real outcome.
It is sad to see we work everyday and pay taxes and mortgages to get this kind of treatment from people who have lived on benefit in a free house for last 40 years.
I dont want no advise but i would say only hard working people do suffer in these situations.
Because fear of losing what we have.
There is nothing you can do to make these people understand since all they want everything free and their way.
I have a night mere neighbour. I am 81 and white British. Now people talk about coercive control, it doesn't happen only in marriage or living with a partner. My neighbour is a classic example any thing doesn't go his way bad language and frothing of mouth comes up. If he is reported to Authority then is a back lash such as throwing a 6ft plank, throwing rubbish pushing my Arbour on my flowers. I have reported him several times he always comes up with excuses which he is believed. I asked the police for cctv because he invites himself to my premises when I am not home. Police said they don't provide council said they don't either. i just can not afford to have some one to install one. In the summer I have to hide under umbrella as he is up and down with his nose over the fence. There is much more. Latest is he has build summer house in the part of his garden which is registered as Agricultural land and looks straight into my dining room.
I complaint to the council, after which he puts planning application though it has been declined but i am not sure what will happen.
I approched to this lady once but I am fade up with sinery words she uses every single speech.
My final opetion now merged is to sell this hoise and move. but before I move I would like to take a legal action agains this lady. Do you have any suggestions ladies and gents.
I cont stand this person because he thinks he owns the building and trying to tell people what to do but I just keep away from him
I just need some advice because ve just got a feeling that another black person will move in and they will sort him out because they won't put up with his rude and sick ways
YOU ARE NO BETTER WE ALL ARE HUMAN
Racist people are uneducated and tramp who have no respect for nobody
daughter 17 run to me with violence and snatched the mobile and thrown it to the floor of my car and damaged it!! I recorded that but only!! And yet no one was interested to what is happening to me and they were calming her down!! I shouted and said: is everybody here against me just because I'm new and Muslim lady!! I have been living here for 15 years and all my children born here and if any of you were fair enough you would ask me what's my problem instead of listing to one story only!! I told them about her sons behaviour and how friendly I tried to be to them for long time by offering dishes from time to time and offering lifts to the mother attacking me when she was walking and even told them how many times her son came to visit and offered food and cakes and play time with us but all stopped when he returned it by rude behaviors and hiding the ball!! She screamed again to drive more attention and said No you did that because I am Black!!!! I said What! Don't use that card as I never treated you difrently ever and the proof that my son used to play with yours for long time and you just started your fight with me using racist words such us go to your F* country and who are you!!! At the end we reach peace agreement that we will have fresh start and we will keep our good relations.. but I was ill of panic attack for the whole night and next day when I had sharp pains in my arms and legs and headache that all accompanies when I am super afraid.. plus found my mobile is damaged and I took it to repairs and cost me £70 for new screan and repairs as all the buttons where not working on my IPhone 6.. what shall do?
Should I forget about it? Or mention it to housing or police? Or tell her to compensate me for the repair and balls ? Or nothing at all and have fresh start????
She said yes because you reported us to housing!! I said yes and that's because you for long months insisted not to solve the problem!!! She said well go to hell.. I said ok you will hear from council again then!! And I left.. she followed me with anger and start swearing at me saying: who are you to come here and threatening me!! Go back from where you come from you F*immigrants!! F* the council.... I was going back toward my car and asking her to stop coming toward me but she lost her control and came to me and she was about to hit me when I started to scream for help and someone calling police!! All the neighbors who knew her for long time stood next to her against me and didn't bother to ask me with the problem and instead they asked her so she started by telling lies and mentioned our report to housing against them.. so everyone look at anger to me and the lady was shouting and saying very bad racist words.. when I felt all alone and afraid I took my mobile to record the swearing words but her daughter 17 run to me wit
Its hurts so bad i dont want to take my child to school ...its everywhere ..around us ...etc...school ..shops...chippi...bank...postoffice..my daughter always say mummy they are bad people...thats not good to say as a child ..i hate my life and my kids life. .they never come on the street for 7years we live here ...saddddddddd ...bad things come to my mind for my kids everyday ....saddddd.
Police proved as racist as the neighbour.
The solicitors and even the courts exercise racism
The strength only comes from inside
An asb case opened against me(defamation) has been closed as all part of her campaign oddly her good friends who live next door who have conspired against me have dismissed the idea of mail theft, get this for a laff!
Two weeks ago this person decided to sign for Amazon packages as me!
She signed exactly as if she were me, so she pretended, the fraud team have been notified, it just goes on and on, it is very hurtful but what I know in my heart is those who wish to believe most probably already have a set in place schema about people of color and as such they need very little evidence to back up their own warped belief system, I am certain karma will visit those who have worked against me.
Stay strong as often there is pure envy involved.
Bless.
I know for a fact this woman in time will come to realize that using half of a community to try and ruin me just informs me that she does see me as a big threat for whatever reason, am of the upmost importance to her and her life with her plotting and sneaking around.
Racism and racist behaviour is alive and well in this country and to suggest otherwise is disingenuous.
The entire infra-structure that we all live within is based on supremacy and as such there will be a lot of obstructions but stay positive and remember that you will not be harassed, worn down and made to feel inferior which behaviour of this kind does try to induce within another.
Another thing to consider is that how important that you must be for this person to be focusing on ruining you and your life through viciousness.
I leave my home with a confident step even if I do not feel it inside as I simply will not allow anyone to alter how I feel about myself.
Everyone, keep your head up and remember the finest steel often gets sent through the hottest furnace.
Believe in what you think you can not achieve, it may take days, months or years, many may not have the strength, but try your hardest to keep that self belief strong within you.
The system is set up so that while there are discrimination Acts in place it is a case of giveth with one and taketh with other, meaning that often those in charge of making sure these legislations are implemented like the Police and Housing all to often turn a blind eye due to their own deep rooted issues with discriminatory feelings.
This is not generally carried out consciously though can be, more so there is an unspoken collective agreement.
Okay must go, but just stay strong and you WILL prevail.
Bless.
I am currently being systematically harassed by a woman who is 35 years older than me.
So far the HA have failed to act so I have made a complaint threating legal action, I already have an existing complaint open regarding this vile piece of work.
I do not wish to say to much in case it identifies me, you never know who may read this.
The harassment is about dominance, the resident has lived in the block for 28 years, she is much older and has a very "I am lady of the manor" syndrome about her.
The racial element was there from the beginning but in all honesty at first very subtle if this makes sense, just little comments which were quite vague, however over the course of a short period of time her "shyness" about such matters has disappeared altogether.
Sticking up newspaper cuttings in communal hallway, referencing my racial group in a Slanderous way to the HA in regards to what she states she heard me yell at the police who visited me after the 5th visit in less weeks.
Oh yes, this resident who is both a bully but also very weak has taken to calling the police on me for made up crimes when ever she feels like it, the purpose is for me to hopefully for her be dragged out of my home like a common criminal with the street looking on muttering "what IS IT with those types of people"?
Sadly for her I enjoy reading and as such know how to protect myself with the Law.
The Police have been used as agencies to harass me as have the local PCSO(one of them is her good pal), a dynamic often used by one who seeks to destroy through any means.
After the last two forced attempt entries to my home I have now submitted two official complaints against the police citing above reasons and the fact that when I have invited them into my home they have been very rude, condescending, disbelieving, and more.
I have notified my local MP who is now on the case.
The Police are not happy I have got my local MP who is quite the star in the House of Commons to represent me.
It is draining, she has done her best to isolate and intimidate me from the very start of me moving in to my new home, however I simply will NOT be intimidated.
There is a lot more but....
Ah yes theft of my mail but I do know she has been stealing the mail from within the communal building for some time, three flats in block, no mail boxes, she on ground floor so has been easy for her and have seen her with my own eyes yet has decided to Slander me that I am the one stealing, the HA know this not to be true, accept she has stolen hence new mail boxes installed, accept newspaper cuttings, photographical evidence, and more and yet they have colluded from the very start.
Agiesm the other way is going on, I have been informed by a Law Centre the very fact that she is 67 will mean the HA will simply not be impartial in this manner.
Oh but they will in time.....
It can hurt to see residents looking at you with doubt, but sod em, I know for a fact that this resident
We let a house to a couple and their son. They have not been ideal tenants, however my husband is unwilling to take action to remove them, as they have been at the property for some years now and carry out maintenance to the interior. I have noticed recently, that the man has been posting some rather extreme right wing views on his Facebook page. I am sure this is not illegal, but he seems to have particular issues with both Eastern European people and those who follow Islam. What constitutes racist behaviour? - I am sure he must exhibit these views in his life, as well as his online life. I am troubled by this, but my husband is unwilling to tackle him about it, as it seems his friends and family share his views and we cannot end their tenancy for inadequate reasons. Thank you.
I am sorry you have had to experience such ignorance. I, too, am going through the same thing right now. My neighbors have been cautioned by the police, but they continue to disobey the warnings. I will not put up with their toxic behavior and will continue to report them. I have also decided to write to my local MP as well. It is disgusting, because their actions are blatant racial discrimination and harassment. I have noticed that the other neighbors do not speak now as well... That is their problem not mine. I am very happy my parents raised me well and to be very strong. It is very sad, or should I say, they are very sad... through all of this nonsense; I have remained calm and have acted with dignity.. Unlike them, using foul language, especially the usage of the F word and in each shot of my five year old children and used directly at my oldest son and his friends. So, yes, stay strong and do not take this horrific behavior from anyone. I have had to deal with racism most of my life.. it is very ugly and I would not put anyone through this..
Keep reporting them.. someone will listen!!
We have had cars damaged, smashed windows, etc.
15 years later it's become very clear our neighbour was behind this campaign of hatred, only she no longer does it anonymously. She is on very strong medication for mental health problems. She openly begs everyone living on the estate to come and sort us out, continuous gossiping and slandering, asking young kids to damage our property, getting members of her family to physically attack us, made many racist comments over the years, making false allegations to the police to get us arrested, it's non-stop harassment.
I'm pretty sure the fact we own our property and her property is council owned makes her even more angry.
The police don't really do anything, the harassment we suffer is on a daily basis, it's got to the point where we have asked the council to swap our privately owned house for another council house on another estate.
We wont be able to sell our house as we will have to tell any potential buyers about the problems we have experienced from this problem neighbour, the council are also very slow in acting.
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