Whistleblower exposes Pontins’ discriminatory practices, EHRC report highlights shocking racial discrimination

In a shocking revelation, Pontins, once a beloved holiday destination, has been found guilty of extensive discrimination against travellers. A whistleblower came forward in 2020, exposing a disturbing practice within the company.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) initiated an action plan with Pontins following the whistleblower’s report. However, in 2022, they terminated the agreement due to Pontins’ failure to comply with the plan and their continuous breaches of the Equality Act. One of the discriminatory rules required guests to be on the voting register, a condition less likely to be met by travellers.

The EHRC investigation revealed that Pontins had violated the law multiple times and had even created a blacklist of surnames. This blacklist, affecting over one million people in the UK and Ireland, included names such as McGuinness, Gallagher, and Murphy.

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Chairwoman of the EHRC, condemned Pontins’ actions, stating, “Their business practices demonstrated shocking overt racial discrimination towards Irish Travellers, and there was a culture of denial.”

In response to the report, Chris McDonagh, Campaigns Officer at Friends, Families and Travellers, expressed sadness at the discrimination faced by Irish Traveller people and emphasized the need to combat hate and prejudice.

Pontins’ parent company, Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd, issued an apology, acknowledging the historic nature of the incidents, which predates 2018. They assured ongoing compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and expressed regret for any harm caused.

The EHRC’s investigation serves as a stark reminder of the persistence of discrimination and the importance of upholding equal rights for all individuals, regardless of their background.