What is Section 42 of the Equality Act?

Asked by: Simone Predovic  |  Last update: February 28, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (74 votes)

Section 42 of the Equality Act (UK 2010) deals with the identity of the employer, specifically treating certain police roles, like constables and cadets, as employment by the Chief Officer or responsible authority for the purpose of the Act, ensuring they receive equality protections. However, other countries' laws also use "Section 42," such as Ireland's Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, which imposes a Public Sector Equality Duty on public bodies to eliminate discrimination and promote equality.

What is Section 42 of the Equality Act 2010?

42Identity of employer

(a)by the chief officer, in respect of any act done by the chief officer in relation to a constable or appointment to the office of constable; (b)by the responsible authority, in respect of any act done by the authority in relation to a constable or appointment to the office of constable.

What happens with a section 42?

A section 42 enquiry relates to the duty of the Local Authority to make enquiries, or have others do so, if an adult may be at risk of abuse or neglect. This happens whether or not the authority is providing any care and support services to that adult.

What is a section 42 response?

A Section 42 enquiry is any action that is taken (or instigated) by the local authority, under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014, in response to indications of abuse or neglect in relation to an adult with care and support needs who is at risk and is unable to protect themselves because of those needs.

What is the section 42 public sector duty?

Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 establishes a positive duty on public bodies to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality and protect the human rights of staff and the people to whom services are provided.

Bashir Otukoya Speaks On The Importance Of Section 42

30 related questions found

What are 5 examples of unfair discrimination?

Five examples of unfair discrimination include being passed over for promotion due to race or gender (racial/gender bias), paying women less for the same job as men (unequal pay), denying reasonable accommodations for a disability (disability discrimination), harassing someone for their sexual orientation (sexual orientation discrimination), or retaliating against an employee for reporting harassment (retaliation). These actions unfairly disadvantage individuals based on protected traits rather than merit, violating laws like Title VII. 

What evidence do you need for a discrimination case?

Direct evidence.

Direct evidence often involves a statement from a decision-maker that expresses a discriminatory motive. Direct evidence can also include express or admitted classifications, in which a recipient explicitly distributes benefits or burdens based on race, color, or national origin.

Who does Section 42 apply to?

All Section 42 units are income restricted for households at or below 25%, 50%, or 60% of area median income (“AMI”). If the applying household is determined to be income eligible, then it is eligible to move into the property. The household must also meet the program's student status eligibility requirements.

Is section 42 safeguarding serious?

There are effective systems, processes and practices to make sure people are protected from abuse and neglect. Section 42 safeguarding enquiries are carried out sensitively and without delay, keeping the wishes and best interests of the person concerned at the centre.

What is a section 42 notice of claim?

This standard document is a notice of claim by the tenant to the landlord to exercise the tenant's right to acquire a new lease under section 42 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (LRHUDA 1993). This process is sometimes referred to as a lease extension.

Can I serve a section 42 notice myself?

Leaseholders can serve their own Section 42 Notice, however, most people instruct a solicitor to do it for them. A leaseholder can extend the lease themselves or they can assign the Section 42 Notice to a buyer, to allow them to extend the lease after the property has been sold.

What are the downsides of Section 42?

Drawbacks of Section 42 housing

You'll need to prepare and submit additional paperwork, and you'll need to stay on top of any changes to your income or family size. Discuss even small changes in your income with your landlord or property manager, like taking a part-time job.

What are the benefits of Section 42?

The Section 42 housing program refers to that section of the Internal Revenue Tax Code which provides tax credits to investors who build affordable housing. Investors receive a reduction in their tax liability in return for providing affordable housing to people with fixed or lower income.

What are the 4 types of discrimination?

The four main types of discrimination, particularly under UK law like the Equality Act, are Direct Discrimination, Indirect Discrimination, Harassment, and Victimisation, focusing on treating someone unfairly due to protected characteristics (like race, sex, age) through less favorable treatment, disadvantageous rules, offensive behavior, or retaliation for complaining. These legal categories describe how discrimination occurs, distinct from the specific grounds (race, disability, etc.) on which it's based.
 

What are the 9 grounds of discrimination?

The foundation for equality in the workplace is the Employment Equality Act 1998, which promotes equality and prohibits discrimination across the nine grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion and member- ship of the Traveller community.

What are my rights under the Equality Act?

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. It replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act, making the law easier to understand and strengthening protection in some situations.

What is the most common type of risk in section 42 investigations?

the most common type of risk in section 42 enquiries that concluded in the year was neglect and acts of omission, which accounted for 40.8% of risks. The most common location of the risk was the person's own home at 51.9%

Can Section 42 properties be sold?

26 U.S. Code Section 42(i)(7) allows a single-family building or condominium unit to be sold to a tenant for homeownership in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit extended use period (post 15-year compliance period).

How to complete section 42?

If a S42 enquiry is required, the Social Worker/Senior Practitioner should complete the S42 enquiry request. The worker will task Business Services to complete the tracking form, which will record the date the S42 enquiry request was sent out, with the timescale for its return.

What is the purpose of Section 42?

Section 42 of the Care Act 2014 requires that each local authority must make enquiries (or cause others to do so) if it believes an adult is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect. When an allegation about abuse or neglect has been made, an enquiry is undertaken to find out what, if anything, has happened.

How much does a section 42 cost?

The cost of extending a lease using a Section 42 Notice depends on several factors including the premium, valuation fees, legal fees and freeholder's costs. For most lease extensions under a Section 42 Notice, the total cost can range from £5,000 to £20,000 or more, depending on the premium and associated fees.

What is the difference between Section 42 and 62?

Difference between Sec 42 & Sec 62:

Class of securities falling under section 62 must be shares or securities convertible into shares resulting into increase in subscribed capital of the company. On the other hand, all securities fall under section 42. Hence, in a way all preferential allotments are private placements.

How hard is it to win a discrimination case?

The Harvard Law and Policy Review published an article in 2009 which found that employees only win discrimination cases against their employers 15% of the time. Luckily, public awareness of the need for consequences increases your odds of finding justice.

What is the 80% rule in discrimination?

The 80% Rule, or Four-Fifths Rule, is an EEOC guideline to spot potential hiring discrimination: if a protected group (like a race, sex, or ethnic group) is selected at less than 80% the rate of the most favored group, it suggests "adverse impact," requiring the employer to justify the practice as job-related and necessary. It's a statistical tool, not definitive proof, indicating when further investigation into disparate impact is warranted in employment decisions.
 

How to prove you have been discriminated against?

Showing unlawful discrimination

When you make a discrimination claim, you need to show the court evidence that you've been treated unfairly and that the reason you've been treated unfairly is because of a protected characteristic. The protected characteristics in the Equality Act are: age. gender reassignment.