A shop employed a security officer to check the bags of customers leaving the store. The security officer always checked the bags of customers of Middle Eastern appearance and cracked jokes like ‘just making sure you don’t have a bomb in there!’ or ‘not carrying any little presents from Osama are we?’. He often let other customers through without checking their bags or, if he did check their bags, did not make these comments.

An unfair rule or requirement can also be discrimination (this is sometimes called indirect discrimination). Even though the rule seems to apply to everyone equally, it may in fact be harder for some people because of a personal characteristic. If there isn’t a good reason for the rule, it may be unlawful.

Joe was the sole carer of his grandson, Zac. Joe belonged to a service club that raised funds to build a school in a third-world country. The club was organising a trip for interested members to visit the school. Joe was keen to go and asked if he could bring Zac along, because there was no-one who could care for him in Joe’s absence. The club refused, saying that it couldn’t accept any non-members on the trip.

If there was no good reason why Zac shouldn't be allowed to go with Joe on the trip, then the club’s decision would be discrimination.