A human rights watchdog has slammed “flagrant” and “overt” discrimination towards travellers by the operator of a caravan park.

An investigation into Pontins found a number of discriminatory practices towards Irish travellers in their booking practices including creating a list of “undesirable guests” based on common Irish surnames.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has criticised Pontins, who ran the Camber Sands camping site before its closure, as it served the company with a legal notice.

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “Our investigation into Pontins uncovered flagrant breaches of the Equality Act 2010. Their business practices demonstrated shocking overt race discrimination towards Irish Travellers and there was a culture of denial.

“We remain deeply concerned about these discriminatory practices. They were instigated and supported by senior managers and their leadership failed to take any action or accept corporate responsibility.

“Such unlawful and discriminatory behaviour is completely unacceptable, and it must never be tolerated.”

The investigation by the EHRC found that Pontins had drawn up a list of “undesirable guests” using common Irish surnames including McMahon, O’Donnell and Doherty.

Call centre staff were also instructed to listen for Irish accents and to decline or cancel their bookings.

Pontins, owned by Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited, also maintained a “banned guest” list of people Pontins suspected of being Travellers.

The practices were first reported to a whistleblower in 2020 while the Pontins Camber Sands site was still open.

The family holiday park, first built in 1968, closed in November last year.

Chris McDonagh, campaigns officer at Friends, Families and Travellers, said: “It is deeply saddening that Irish Traveller people have become so used to hate and prejudice that the Pontins ‘blacklist’ did not come as a surprise.

“Whilst we are certain that Pontins are not the only ones operating such discriminatory policies, we welcome the EHRC’s investigation and commend the whistleblower’s principled stance.

“Everyone deserves to live free from hate and prejudice.”

The EHRC concluded that Pontins must apologise to the Gypsy and Traveller community and produce an action plan setting out how they intend to end discriminatory practices.

Pontins was approached for comment.