If you're affected by the far-right riots and racist attacks

Parts of the UK are currently experiencing far-right riots and racist attacks. If you’re worried about your safety it’s worth staying at home if you can.

If you’re worried about going to work or an urgent appointment, there are things you can do to stay safe.

If you’ve experienced a hate crime

If you’ve experienced a hate crime, you don’t have to go through it alone. 

You can get help if, for example:

• you want emotional support

• you want to report the incident

Check how to get help if you’ve experienced a hate crime or hate incident.

If you’re worried about going to work

You might be worried about going to work for a number of reasons - for example, if:

• you’re a person of colour

• you’re worried your workplace might be a target of the far-right riots

Your employer has to follow the law to make sure you're safe. You have the right to be safe where you work, whether you work full-time or have a zero-hours contract.

If you can't go to work or you decide not to, you might be able to keep getting paid.

If you work for an employer that’s being targeted by the riots

There are reports that people involved in the riots are targeting people who work for certain companies, like immigration lawyers.

Your employer must carry out a risk assessment in response to any risks to the health and safety of workers. 

The risk assessment should try to protect you from any risks to your health or safety while at work.

If your employer thinks your workplace might be targeted, they should allow you to work from another site or from home, if possible. They shouldn’t expect you to go to your workplace.

If your employer says you should go to your workplace, speak to your employer or your workplace health and safety representative.

You should explain to your employer that you’re worried about your safety. You could also speak to your colleagues about your concerns. You might find it easier to approach your employer as a group.

If they say you must attend work, you can raise a formal grievance with your employer.

Check how to write a grievance letter.

If you’re worried you might be targeted by the riots

There are reports that people involved in the riots are targeting:

• people of colour

• Muslims

• migrants and refugees

• members of other marginalised groups, like Jews / Jewish people

If you’re worried you could be a target, speak to your employer. Ask them to make changes to remove the risk to you.

For example, you could ask your employer to:

• make changes to the way you work - they might change the hours you work or your delivery route

• let you work from home or at a different site

• pay for a taxi for you to get to and from work

• let you work in pairs

If you don't think you can work safely 

Your employer doesn’t usually have to pay you if you choose to stop working. There are things you might be able to agree with your employer that mean you can still be paid if you stop working.

There are other things you can do - for example, you could ask your employer if you can:

• use some of your annual leave to take paid time off

• take unpaid time off

You should also check what benefits you can get from the government.

If your employer won’t help with your concerns

You should talk to an adviser. They could help you negotiate with your employer.

If your workplace is closed because of the riots

You might be entitled to your normal pay. This depends on your employment status - for example, if you’re an employee, worker or self-employed. Find out how to check your employment status.

You should check your employment contract. It might say something about temporary layoffs or reduced pay during periods when the business can’t operate.

You won’t usually get paid if either:

• you’re self-employed

• you’re on a zero-hours contract

If you’re not sure if you’ll be paid, speak to your employer.

If you need to go to an urgent appointment

If you’re worried about missing an urgent appointment, you should tell the person you’re meeting that you’re worried about your safety. An urgent appointment could be:

• a medical appointment

• an asylum interview

• about your benefits

• with an immigration solicitor

You can ask if you can arrange your appointment for another day or time when it might be safer for you. 

You might be able to have some appointments on the phone or on a video call instead of going in person - you should check with the person you’re meeting.

If you’re finding things difficult

It can be isolating to feel unsafe and stay at home. It can also have an impact on your mental health.

If recent events are affecting your mental health, you should talk to your GP.

You can find other ways to get help with your mental health on the Mind website.

If you need to speak to someone 

You can speak to a trained volunteer at organisations like Samaritans or Shout.

Samaritans

Helpline: 116 123 (Monday to Sunday at any time)

Welsh Language Line: 0808 164 0123 (Monday to Sunday 7pm to 11pm)

Calls to Samaritans are free.

You can find other ways to get in touch with Samaritans on their website.

Shout

You can also text 'SHOUT' to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained Shout volunteer. Texts are free, anonymous and confidential from anywhere in the UK.

If you think it's an emergency

If you think your life or someone else’s is at risk, you should call 999 or go to A&E if you can.

You can also find a list of urgent mental health services on the Mind website.