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Minimising the risk of discrimination

25 March 2008

According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission there are 10 million people in the UK who have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

The scope of the Act has been widened recently and anyone who provides a service to the public, or a section of the public, now has duties under the Act.

It is almost inevitable that retailers will see an increase in claims being made against them.

People with rights under the Act do not always have obvious physical disabilities. For example, we recently defended a national retailer in a claim by a visually impaired person (with no physical indications of her disability) who claimed she should be allowed to sign for goods rather than use Chip and Pin as she had difficulties in seeing the pin pad.

The customer claimed discrimination as the retailer required additional identification before accepting her signature. Retailers are obliged to provide appropriate training to their staff who may come into contact with customers with disabilities and it is good practice to provide refresher training annually to minimise the risk of claims.

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Linda Mattingly

Solicitor
T: 08700 86 8390
I: +44 (0)1908 48 8390
E: linda.mattingly@shoosmiths.co.uk