Section 20 of the Equality Act 2006 describes what action the Commission can take if there is a suspicion that an organisation has done or is doing something, which violates the Equality Act.

The different steps of an investigation may include providing written details of why the action of an organisation may be unlawful, publishing the final terms of reference, which requires the respective organisation to provide information, documents and oral evidence of its compliance and finally to publish them in a report.

This final report will clarify whether or not the organisation has committed an unlawful act.

It should be noted that the final report will be presented to the respective organisations and they have at least 28 days to comment on it before its publication. At the end of the investigation, the Commission makes recommendations. Should the organisation ignore these recommendations or otherwise fail to implement them, the Commission may file a notification of an unlawful act.