Homes ads spark discrimination fear

20 February 2007

THE race relations watchdog has issued warnings that some ads in East End shop windows are breaking laws designed to stamp out discrimination.

People offering services or rental accommodation are risking prosecution, the Commission for Racial Equality warned this week.

It follows an Advertiser investigation in which we spotted a series of ads in at newsagents in Bethnal Green, Whitechapel and Shadwell offering rooms to let which specify the preferred race of tenants - a breach of the 1976 Race Relations Act.

Several ads stated "Bangladeshi citizen preferable," "Preference Pakistani" or "Bangladeshi students welcome."

Another spotted in Bethnal Green stated: "Two female Bangladeshi preferable."

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