EQUALITY ACT 2010 · PSBAR 2018

Accessibility audit for the UK — Equality Act & PSBAR compliance

Check your website against the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018. Scrutia audits WCAG 2.1 AA criteria and delivers a GDS-ready report.

2018

PSBAR in force

82%

concordance rate

106

criteria tested

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UK accessibility framework

The UK has a two-layer accessibility framework. The Equality Act 2010 is a general anti-discrimination law requiring all service providers (public and private) to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. This has been interpreted by the courts to include websites and mobile apps.

The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (PSBAR) add specific obligations for public sector organizations: WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance, a published accessibility statement, and a feedback mechanism. PSBAR was retained in UK law after Brexit.

Official references: Equality Act 2010 · PSBAR 2018

Who must comply

  • Public sector (PSBAR) — central government, local councils, NHS, police, fire services
  • Education — universities, colleges, schools receiving public funding
  • Private service providers — all businesses under the Equality Act 2010
  • E-commerce and retail — online stores, marketplaces, booking sites
  • Finance and banking — UK FCA-regulated firms with digital services

Enforcement and legal exposure

UK enforcement operates through two channels:

  • GDS monitoring: the Government Digital Service audits public sector sites and publishes findings. Non-compliant bodies are reported to the Cabinet Office.
  • EHRC enforcement: the Equality and Human Rights Commission can issue compliance notices, take injunctive action, and publish findings against non-compliant organizations.
  • Civil claims: disabled users can bring discrimination claims directly in County Court under the Equality Act 2010. Damages are uncapped.
  • Reputational damage: accessibility complaints are frequently covered by UK media and tech journalists.

How Scrutia helps with UK compliance

Scrutia audits your site against all WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria — the standard referenced by both PSBAR and the EHRC's guidance on the Equality Act. The audit uses a real browser and tests dynamic components, keyboard navigation, colour contrast, forms, and responsive behaviour.

The full report (149 €, approximately £130) provides HTML/CSS/JS fix code for every issue and is designed to support your GDS-template accessibility statement or your reasonable-adjustments documentation under the Equality Act.

For UK companies trading in the EU, our European Accessibility Act audit guide covers the additional EU-market requirements.

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Scrutia audits WCAG 2.1 AA criteria referenced by PSBAR and the EHRC and delivers fix code for every issue.

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UK accessibility law FAQ

Does UK accessibility law still apply after Brexit?
Yes. Post-Brexit, the UK retained the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (PSBAR) and continues to reference WCAG 2.1 Level AA. The Equality Act 2010 applies to all UK businesses, public and private, and predates EU accessibility directives. The UK did not adopt the European Accessibility Act, but commercial sites serving the EU must still comply with EAA requirements.
What does the Equality Act 2010 say about websites?
The Equality Act 2010 requires service providers to make 'reasonable adjustments' to avoid putting disabled people at a substantial disadvantage. Courts and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have consistently interpreted this to include websites and digital services. Failure to make reasonable adjustments can lead to discrimination claims in County Court, with unlimited damages.
What is PSBAR and who does it cover?
The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 (PSBAR) transposed EU Directive 2016/2102 into UK law. It requires UK public sector websites and mobile apps — central government, local councils, NHS, schools, universities — to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA and publish an accessibility statement. Enforcement is shared between the Government Digital Service (GDS), which monitors compliance, and the EHRC, which handles enforcement action.
Who enforces accessibility in the UK?
The Government Digital Service (GDS) at the Cabinet Office monitors public sector compliance under PSBAR and publishes annual reports. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the enforcement body and can take formal action against non-compliant organizations. For private sector discrimination under the Equality Act, enforcement is through the civil courts, with disabled users able to bring claims directly.
Do I need to publish an accessibility statement in the UK?
Yes, if you are a UK public sector body. Under PSBAR, every public sector website and mobile app must publish an accessibility statement following the GDS template at gov.uk. The statement must declare conformance status, list non-accessible content, explain disproportionate burden claims, and provide a feedback mechanism. Private companies are not legally required to publish a statement, but doing so is strong evidence of reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act.

Avoid EHRC action and discrimination claims

Check your UK accessibility compliance in 5 minutes. Free audit, full report with fix code for 149 €.

Check UK compliance

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