Poltics
Pontins discriminated against Travellers by drawing up a list of “undesirable” Irish surnames, the Equality and Human Rights Price (EHRC) has found.
The holiday camp operator committed “flagrant breaches of the Equality Act” according to the EHRC, which investigated after a whistleblower revealed the practice in 2020.
Pontins, owned by Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd, was also found to have suggested call centre staff to listen for Irish accents and then decline or cancel their bookings and to have maintained a “banned guest” list of folks suspected to be Irish Travellers.
The company also launched ideas requiring guests to be on the electoral roll, a practice found to be discriminatory against Gypsies and Travellers, who are less seemingly to be registered.
The EHRC conducted an investigation into the agency, and has now ordered it to apologise to the group and introduce equality training, or else the company may face criminal charges.
Commenting on the investigation, Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Price, said: “Our investigation into Pontins uncovered flagrant breaches of the Equality Act 2010.
“Their industry practices demonstrated hideous overt race discrimination towards Irish Travellers and there was a culture of denial.
“”We remain deeply eager about these discriminatory practices. They were instigated and supported by senior managers and their leadership failed to take any action or accept corporate responsibility.
“Such unlawful and discriminatory behaviour is totally unacceptable, and it have to by no means be tolerated.”
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Chris McDonagh, Campaigns Officer at Pals, Families and Travellers, said: “It is deeply saddening that Irish Traveller folks have change into so conventional to hate and prejudice that the Pontins ‘blacklist’ did not reach as a surprise.
“While we are certain that Pontins are not among the finest ones operating such discriminatory insurance policies, we welcome the EHRC’s investigation and commend the whistleblower’s principled stance.
“All americans deserves to reside free from hate and prejudice.”
Pontins owner, Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd, said in a statement: “We are in the direction of of reviewing the unlawful act peep and investigation file from the Equality and Human Rights Price (EHRC).
“The utter incidents reported by the EHRC are historical concerns predating 2018.
“The call centre where the incidents took place has closed and the majority of the staff eager have now left Pontins.
“We apologise to all who may have been affected. Pontins is committed to making decided ongoing compliance with the Equality Act 2010.”
