Giving voice and a lending hand: Enquiries and Complaints In the 2019-20 year we received 5915 new enquiries and complaints, a similar number to the previous four years. Of these, 1445 were complaints of alleged unlawful discrimination. The table below shows (in green) the last five years’ figures of enquiries and complaints received, and (in brown) how many of them were alleging unlawful discrimination (1445 in 2019-20). 5 years enquiries and complaints received 2015-16 to 2019-20 7000 6304 6000 5000 5666 5915 5336 5453 1274 1211 1381 1282 1445 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 The 2019-20 year in detail A distinct feature of the year was the impact of the COVID-19. In December 2019 the Commission was tracking to a probable ‘year-end’ figure of about 5,400 enquiries and complaints received. Due to the influx of COVID-19-related enquiries and complaints from January 2020 onwards, the actual year-end figure at 30 June 2020 was 5915, our second-highest volume ever. The graph below shows the varying volume received each month. It started to increase in January 2020, with a peak in May 2020 of 745 enquiries and complaints received. Enquiries and complaints received per month 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Jul-19 Aug-19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 21