Protected Characteristic Background Information
Race
2011
Introduction
Under the new Equality Act 2010, race is covered as one of the nine protected characteristics. According to
the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, race refers to a group of people defined by their:




Race
Colour
Nationality
Ethnic and National Origins
This Protected Characteristic background document should be read in conjunction with other
documents in the suite for a full understanding of equalities issues.
Background Statistics
Population Structure – Ethnicity
ONS mid-year population estimates (MYE) provide the strongest and most robust information about the
ethnic breakdown of the population in Reigate & Banstead. Data from the 2009 MYEs shows that the black
and minority ethnic (BME) population in England was just under 6.5 million, accounting for almost 12.5% of
the total population.
In 2009, around half of the total BME population in England was of Asian/Asian British origin, followed by
Black/Black British origin. Within this, Indians were the single largest ethnic minority group.
Ethnic Breakdown
White - British
White - Irish
White - Other White
Total White
White and Black Caribbean
White and Black African
White and Asian
Other Mixed
Total Mixed
Indian
Pakistani
Bangladeshi
Other Asian
Total Asian or Asian Briti sh
Black Caribbean
Black African
Other Black
Total Black or Black Briti sh
Chinese
Other Ethnic Group
Total Chinese or Other Ethnic Group
Total Population
Reigate & Banstead
Total
%
Number
113,400
1,500
6,800
121,700
600
400
1,000
700
2,700
3,300
1,300
600
900
6,100
1,200
2,400
300
3,900
800
900
1,700
136,100
83.3
1.1
5.0
89.4
0.4
0.3
0.7
0.5
2.0
2.4
1.0
0.4
0.7
4.5
0.9
1.8
0.2
2.9
0.6
0.7
1.2
South Ea st
Total
%
Number
England
Total
Number
7,231, 100
85,100
334,700
7,650, 900
37,500
19,500
48,900
39,000
144,900
178,900
99,800
32,400
45,900
357,000
54,200
91,700
12,200
158,100
61,000
63,800
124,800
8,435, 700
42,893,300
558,100
1,861, 800
45,313,200
301,300
127,500
292,400
235,500
956,700
1,414, 100
990,700
384,300
377,700
3,166, 800
609,400
787,500
124,500
1,521, 400
439,500
412,100
851,600
51,809,700
85.7
1.0
4.0
90.7
0.4
0.2
0.6
0.5
1.7
2.1
1.2
0.4
0.5
4.2
0.6
1.1
0.1
1.9
0.7
0.8
1.5
%
82.8
1.1
3.6
87.5
0.6
0.2
0.6
0.5
1.8
2.7
1.9
0.7
0.7
6.1
1.2
1.5
0.2
2.9
0.8
0.8
1.6
The ONS information in the above table shows that the population in Reigate & Banstead is slightly less
ethnically diverse than the national population but slightly more than the South East region with just over
10% of the population classed as non-white. The chart below shows the breakdown of non-white population
within Reigate & Banstead. Similar to nationally, Indians are the single largest minority ethnic group in the
borough, accounting for 23% of the BME population, followed by Black African (17%) and Pakistani (9%).
Figure 1: Breakdown of BME Population in Reigate & Banstead
Mixed White and Black
Other Ethnic Group
Caribbean Mixed White and Black
6%
4%
African
Chinese
3%
Other Black or Black 6%
Mixed White and Asian
British
7%
2%
Mixed Other
5%
Black African
17%
Indian
23%
Black Caribbean
8%
Other Asian or Asian
British
6%
Pakistani
9%
Bangladeshi
4%
Since 2001, the borough has become more ethnically diverse. At the time of the Census in 2001, only 5.0%
of the population but has doubled to more than 10% in 2009. Comparing the borough’s population
breakdown in 2001 and 2009 shows that there has been a particularly large increase in people of Indian or
Black African origin. As the chart below demonstrates, the proportion of population classed as non-white in
Reigate & Banstead has grown at a faster than the England average.
Figure 2: Proportion of Non-White Population (2001-2009)
14
12
Percentage
10
8
6
4
2
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Reigate & Banstead
2006
2007
2008
2009
England
The 2001 Census provides the latest source of ethnic composition at Ward level. The percentage of nonwhite ethnic groups across the borough’s wards ranged from 2.7% in South Park & Woodhatch to 8.5% in
Redhill West and 8.4% in Redhill East.
Figure 3: Proportion of Non-White Population by Ward
75%
80%
85%
90%
95%
100%
Banstead Village
Chipstead, Hooley and Woodmansterne
Earlswood and Whitebushes
Horley Central
Horley East
Horley West
Kingswood with Burgh Heath
Meadvale and St John's
Merstham
Nork
Preston
Redhill East
Redhill West
Reigate Central
Reigate Hill
Salfords and Sidlow
South Park and Woodhatch
Tadworth and Walton
Tattenhams
White
Non-White
Banstead Village has the highest proportion of black people (2.3%) of all of the wards in the borough whilst
Redhill East and West have the highest proportions of Asian people (3.8% and 4.7% respectively). Salfords
& Sidlow and Kingswood with Burgh Heath have the highest proportions of Indian residents, both as 1.7%.
Population Structure – Broad Nationality/Country of Birth
Nationality and national origins are also included under the race characteristic under the Equalities Act.
Data from the 2001 Census shows that almost 117,000 people (92.4%) in Reigate & Banstead were born in
the United Kingdom or Ireland with just under 10,000 (7.6%) born elsewhere. The chart below shows the
broad area of birth of those not born in the UK or Ireland. Just over 25% were born elsewhere in Western
Europe, a quarter of which were born in Germany.
Figure 4: Broad Nationality of Residents Born Outside of UK & Ireland
Oceania Other
South America 5.8%
0.9%
2.4%
North America
9.4%
South Asia
15.3%
Rest of Western
Europe
25.5%
Eastern Europe
4.9%
Far East
10.6%
Middle East
4.0%
North Africa
1.5%
Central and
Western Africa
2.8%
South and
Eastern Africa
16.9%
The borough also has a high proportion of people born in South & Eastern Africa (particularly South Africa)
and also in South Asia (predominantly India and Pakistan). At ward level, those with the highest proportion
of people born outside of the UK and Ireland are Redhill East (11.6%), Reigate Hill (10.5%) and Redhill
West (10.3%). Conversely, South Park & Woodhatch (4.4%) has the lowest proportion of people born
outside UK and Ireland.
Education and Skills
According to the latest schools information, around 8.9% of the Primary School population in Reigate &
Banstead have English as an additional language (EAL), slightly above the Surrey average. In terms of
Secondary Schools, this falls to around 6.7%, just below the corresponding figure for Surrey.
In terms of educational attainment, there is some variance between children of different ethnic
backgrounds. At KS2, pupils of a mixed background demonstrate the highest performance with more than
80% achieving level 4+ in English and Maths, closely followed by children of an Asian background. Both
also significantly outperform the national average. Pupils of a black origin have the lowest performance with
only 62% achieving level 4+ in English and Maths, below the national average of 68%.
Figure 5: Percentage of KS2 Pupils Achieving Level 4+ in English & Maths
Black
Asian
Mixed
White
All
0%
20%
40%
England
60%
80%
100%
Reigate & Banstead
Educational performance at GCSE level also differs between different ethnic groups, although less
markedly. The table below shows the percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A* - C grades including and
excluding English and Maths. Pupils of an Asian background continue to have the highest attainment with
83% achieving 5+ A* - C grades.
5+ A*- C
All
White
Mixed
Asian
Black
Reigate &
Banstead
76.2%
75.9%
81.1%
82.7%
71.4%
England
76.1%
75.9%
76.5%
79.5%
74.4%
5+ A*- C inc Engli sh & Maths
Reigate &
England
Banstead
59.9%
55.1%
60.0%
55.1%
62.3%
54.9%
63.5%
58.4%
52.4%
49.3%
According to data from the 2001 Census, qualifications levels vary significantly with ethnicity. The chart
below shows the breakdown according to broad qualification levels (none, low and high). In particular, there
are a particularly high proportion of people of Bangladeshi origin with no qualifications. Conversely, those of
Indian origin are least likely to have no qualifications and also the highest proportion of people with high
level qualifications (more than 50%).
Figure 6: Level of Qualifications
Chinese
Bangladeshi
Pakistani
Indian
Black
Mixed
White Other
White British
All People
0%
10%
20%
30%
No qualifications or level unknown
40%
50%
60%
Lower level qualifications
70%
80%
90%
100%
Higher level qualifications
Economic activity and Employment
Economic activity for those aged 16 to 74 in the borough varies with significantly with ethnic origin. Detailed
information on ethnicity and economic activity is only available from the 2001 Census due to the small
sample size of subsequent population surveys. The table below shows headline information from the 2010
Annual Population Survey and demonstrates that both economic activity rate and employment rate are
lower amongst ethnic minority groups.
All Population
Economic inactivity rate
Employment rate
Ethnic Minority Population
Economic inactivity rate
Employment rate
England
South East
Reigate & Banstead
23.8%
70.3%
20.7%
74.5%
18.6%
77.9%
32.3%
59.0%
26.3%
67.1%
20.9%
66.7%
In terms of occupational level, robust data at the local level is only available from the 2001 Census.
Generally, the borough’s residents hold high levels of occupations, with one third of people in
Professional/Managerial Occupations. However, this rises to more than 55% amongst those of Indian
origin. On the other hand, whilst across all ethnic groups only 8% on average are in elementary
occupations, the percentage rises to more than 18% for residents of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin.
These trends correlate somewhat with the qualifications data expressed above.
Data from the 2009 Annual Population Survey for the South East region shows that the trends above have
not changed significantly. As the table below demonstrates, Indians are still more likely than any other
ethnic group to hold the highest level occupations.
White
Managers & Senior Officials
Profe ssional
Associate
Profe ssional/Technical
Admin & Secretarial
Skilled Trades
Personal Service
Sales & Consumer Service
Process, Plant & Machinery
Operatives
Elementary
Mixed
Indian
Pakistani
/Bangladeshi
Black
18.7
15.0
15.0
12.1
17.0
14.3
16.3
26.3
16.5
13.5
14.3
11.4
7.9
13.2
19.8
Other
Ethnic
Group
14.4
22.7
13.5
11.4
10.0
9.1
6.9
4.5
11.0
9.1
8.0
14.0
3.9
11.1
3.9
7.0
9.3
4.0
9.9
3.2
4.4
9.9
16.6
10.0
2.3
13.5
5.1
6.9
5.1
3.4
13.0
5.9
4.5
9.4
10.6
5.7
16.7
21.3
17.4
Housing and Living Environment
Information from the 2001 Census provides an indication of the housing conditions and amenity
experienced by various ethnic groups.
The chart below shows the proportion of households from different ethnic groups which are considered to
be overcrowded (i.e. too few rooms for the number of occupants). Overcrowding is generally higher
amongst BME households in the borough. White households had the lowest levels of overcrowding (5% of
households) whilst overcrowding across Black or Black British households was highest at more than 23%.
Figure 7: Percentage of Overcrowded Households
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
White
Mixed
Asian or Asian Black or Black
British
British
Chinese
Other
In all ethnic groups, the majority of people lived in a property which they own with a mortgage or loan.
Levels of outright ownership vary significantly among the different ethnic groups from almost 35% for those
of White origin to less than 10% amongst those of Black origin.
Renting is significantly more common amongst those of Black origin than any other ethnic group with
almost 40% living in either social rented or privately rented accommodation.
Information for the 2008-09 national Citizenship Survey indicates that 25% of people of White origin
expected to be treated worse by than other races by a council housing department or housing association,
significantly higher than any other racial group. Conversely, White people were less likely to say they were
treated worse by Private Landlords (4%) compared with 14% of those of Black Caribbean origin.
Figure 8: Household Tenure by Ethnic Group
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
White
Mixed
Asian
Black
Chinese
Other
Owns outright
Owns with a mortgage or loan
Shared ownership
Social rented
Private rented
Living rent free
Other
Community and Society
Data from the national Citizenship Survey (2008-09) provides an insight into perceptions of racial prejudice
and discrimination in day-to-day life. Overall, the statistics show that 50% of people felt racial prejudice was
more prevalent than five years ago; however, this percentage had fallen compared to 2007-08. Of all
groups, Asian people and Muslims were most frequently reported as experiencing more racial prejudice (by
39% and 37% of people respectively), whilst the third highest group was Eastern Europeans (32%).
In terms of public service, the predominant view was that all organisations would treat people of different
racial backgrounds the same. However, the proportion of people who perceived some kind of discrimination
(either positive or negative) varied between those of different ethnic backgrounds. Those of Black
Caribbean origin were most likely to feel like they had been treated worse by at least one of the eight key
public service organisations (44% of respondents) whilst Chinese people were least likely (18%).
Figure 9: Percentage of People Expecting to be Treated Worse by One of the Key Public
Service Organisations
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
The Citizenship Survey also indicates people’s perceptions of whether racial and religious harassment is a
problem within their area. Overall, racial or religious harassment was not seen as a significant issue by
most, with 91% of people saying that it was not a very big problem or not a problem at all. White people
were least likely to perceive a problem (8%) whilst those of Mixed Race were most likely (19%). Only 7% of
those in the South East region felt racial harassment was a problem, the second lowest of any region in
England. Perceptions of racial harassment also vary according to levels of deprivation with 21% of people
in the most deprived 10% of areas feeling harassment is a fairly or very big problem in their area compared
to only 3% of those in the least deprived 10%.