Whilst the Racial Equality Council's focus is on enabling organisations to address race equality, it also has a watchdog function. Organisations need to be made aware of any shortcomings in meeting their duties if they are to be helped to overcome and rectify them. Devon REC is also able to ensure that learning from one organisation's failures can be used to prevent or identify difficulties in other organisations. Our monitoring function also helps us to identify recurrent problems and alert organisations to institutional factors that may be at play. Whilst most organisations can be encouraged to address their problems in the interests of good practice, many organisations also need to be reminded of the imperative of the law too. Devon REC is able to monitor public bodies' and other service providers' performance from a number of vantage points. Our work on complainant aid and case-work referral highlights serious instances of discrimination. Our advice and policy development role provides the opportunity to explore gaps in service providers' observations of their duties and to suggest action. Ultimately, where shortcomings need deeper exploration, the Racial Equality Council is able to advise organisations and complainants where it is useful to involve relevant inspectorates and authorities.

The Commission for Racial Equality's names for this work:

Critical friend role
Research
Participation in local audits
Leadership - showcasing good practice
Cross-community work - tackling isolation and lack of support in rural areas
Alienated communities - rural areas.