New Ipsos report on Public Perceptions of Systemic Racism in the UK

Following recent surveys showing how much more needs to be done to tackle racism, especially on social media, this report delves into the roots of racism in the UK, who is affected by it and why it has become a part of the system itself. Key findings of the report include:

• Black African people and Gypsies, Roma and Travellers are the groups most seen to be treated unfairly by society (27% and 25% respectively)
• Seven in ten British adults (70%) say they have heard of the terms ‘systemic racism’ or ‘institutional racism’, within this 73% say they have a good understanding of the terms
• Almost half think Black people are treated worse than White people by the police, 36% say they are treated worse by courts and prisons
• Almost two-thirds (64%) of Black people say they are treated worse by the police
•  A third (34%) believe ethnic minorities are treated worse than White people by institutions because of a mix of prejudiced individuals working within them and they way things work within the institutions, 26% place the blame purely on individuals while 15% place it with the institutions

We also spoke to 42 Britons from ethnic minority groups on our online community. 

Kully Kaur-Ballagan, Research Director at Ipsos, said:

This report highlights that across a range of institutions ethnic minorities – in particular Black people - feel they are treated worse than White people. This unfair treatment is seen to be down to a combination of the way things work in these organisations and the prejudice of individuals. And while there is a high level of awareness of the terms systemic racism and institutional racism among the public, there is little detailed understanding.  The study also explored awareness of the report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (the Sewell report). Levels of awareness are fairly low yet when asked about some of the specific recommendations to tackle racial inequality there is widespread public support.