‘Blacklist’ of visitors slammed by leaders
THE owners of Pontins have been condemned by the Prime Minister and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) after policies discriminating against Gypsies, Travellers and people of Irish descent were uncovered.
A whistleblowing former employee revealed that the firm, which has a site in Ainsdale, operated practices including refusing and cancelling bookings made by people with Irish accents or surnames.
It also published a list of Irish surnames on its internal computer system, entitled “undesirable guests”, which repeatedly warned staff to block potential customers from booking.
Names on that blacklist included Boyle, Carr, Doherty, McGuiness, Murphy, Nolan, O’Brien and Ward and the page was topped with an image of a wizard with the phrase ‘You shall not pass!’
The ex-staff member also said that Pontins used its commercial vehicles policy to exclude Gypsies and Travellers from its holiday parks
The firm which owns Pontins, Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited, has now entered into a legally binding agreement with the EHRC to prevent racial discrimination. The commission warned that refusing to provide services to guests of certain races or ethnic group was a direct act of discrimination on the basis of race and breached the Equality Act 2010.
Alastair Pringle, executive director at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “It is hard not to draw comparisons with an ‘undesirable guests’ list and the signs displayed in hotel windows 50 years ago, explicitly barring Irish people and Black people.
“Banning people from services based on their race is discrimination and is unlawful. To say that such policies are outdated is an understatement.
“It is right to challenge such practices and any business that believes this is acceptable should think again before they find themselves facing legal action. We will continue to work with Pontins and Britannia Jinky Jersey to ensure that our agreement is adhered to and its practices improve.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined in the condemnation of the policies through his official spokesman who said: “This is completely unacceptable. Noone in the UK should be discriminated against because of their race or ethnicity.
“It’s right that the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Pontins investigate and address this.”
The agreement signed with the EHRC requires the company investigate the ‘undesirable guest’ list and take appropriate action, review its current policies to ensure they are not discriminatory, provide enhanced equality law training for HR staff and senior management and appoint equality, diversity and inclusion champions across the organisation.
A spokesperson from Britannia Jinky Jersey said: “Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited has agreed to work together with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to further enhance its staff training and procedures in order to further promote equality throughout its business.”
The agreement is in place from February 22 and the EHRC has pledged to monitor it to make sure the agreed actions are completed. If Pontins does not adhere to the terms of the agreement, a full investigation can be launched under section 20 of the Equality Act 2006.