§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation in his next criminal justice Bill that every tenancy for(a) homes and (b) shops contains a condition prohibiting racial harrassment, binding on landlords as well as tenants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydCurrent landlord and tenant legislation already gives local authorities powers to take action against tenants who racially harass other tenants. The Public Order Act 1986 created a new low-level offence of offensive conduct which is relevant to all forms of harassment. There are no plans to introduce additional legislation.
The Commission for Racial Equality has produced codes of practice for both rented and non-rented housing, which were approved by Parliament in 1990 and 1992 respectively. These include practical steps to deal with, and pre-empt, racial harassment.