London Digital Accessibility - WCAG & Public Sector Law

Technology and Data England 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 02, 2026 Flag of England

London public sector bodies must meet UK digital accessibility duties that reference WCAG standards and the Equality Act. This guide explains how the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 apply to local authorities and other public bodies in London, England, what compliance steps to take, how to report issues, and where to find official guidance.[2]

Publish an accessibility statement and a clear contact for reporting barriers on your site.

Scope of the rules

The 2018 Regulations require most public sector websites and mobile apps to meet accessibility standards and to publish an accessibility statement describing compliance and known exceptions.[1] The rules sit alongside the Equality Act 2010 duties on reasonable adjustments for disabled people.[3]

Penalties & Enforcement

The 2018 Regulations and accompanying official guidance set statutory duties but do not list fixed monetary fines on the cited pages; specific fine amounts are not specified on the cited page.[1]

  • Monetary fines: not specified on the cited page; enforcement remedies depend on legal routes and administrative steps noted in official guidance.[1]
  • Escalation: first and repeat offences are not itemised with specific ranges on the cited page; the legislation requires remediation and publication of accessibility statements rather than a tariffed fine schedule.[1]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to remedy inaccessible content, court actions, and judicial review are possible where statutory duties are breached; specific sanctions are not numerically listed on the cited pages.[1]
  • Enforcer and complaints: people should contact the public body via the published accessibility statement contact method; for discrimination claims under the Equality Act, contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission for guidance.[2][3]
  • Appeals and reviews: time limits and appeal mechanisms are not specified on the accessibility regulations page; procedural remedies often follow standard judicial review or tribunal routes as set out for public law and equality claims.[1]
If you believe a London public body is not complying, first use the contact on its accessibility statement to report the issue.

Defences and discretion

The Regulations and guidance recognise exceptions where content is not covered or where technical infeasibility applies, and the Equality Act allows consideration of reasonable adjustments; specific statutory defences or permit routes are not detailed on the cited accessibility regulations page.[1]

Common violations and typical outcomes

  • Missing accessibility statement or contact - requirement to publish statement and respond.
  • Failure to meet WCAG 2.1 AA for key pages - requirement to fix and disclose exceptions.
  • Forms or PDFs not accessible - requirement to provide accessible alternatives and timelines for remediation.

Applications & Forms

No central application or standard form is required by the Regulations for reporting compliance; public bodies must publish a contact method in their accessibility statement for reporting problems and provide an alternative route to access content. If a specific body publishes a reporting form, that will appear on its accessibility statement page.[2]

Compliance steps for London public bodies

  • Audit existing website and apps against WCAG 2.1 AA and document exceptions.
  • Publish an accessibility statement with contact details and remediation timelines.[2]
  • Assign departmental responsibility for fixes and record evidence of changes.
  • Set deadlines for remediating priority content and communicate progress publicly.
WCAG 2.1 AA is the reference standard named in official guidance for public sector sites and apps.

FAQ

Which London bodies must comply?
Most public sector bodies operating in London must follow the Regulations, including local authorities and many other public organisations; check the bodys own accessibility statement.
How do I report inaccessible content?
Use the contact method shown in the public bodys accessibility statement; you can also seek advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission for discrimination concerns.[3]
Are there set fines for non-compliance?
The accessibility Regulations and guidance do not publish fixed fine amounts on the cited pages; enforcement focuses on corrective orders and legal remedies.[1]

How-To

  1. Run an internal audit against WCAG 2.1 AA to identify high-priority barriers.
  2. Publish or update the accessibility statement on the website with a clear contact for reports.
  3. Create a remediation plan with owners, deadlines, and evidence of fixes.
  4. Provide accessible alternatives for any content that cannot be fixed immediately and keep users informed.
  5. Review procurement and supplier contracts to require accessible deliverables.

Key Takeaways

  • Publish an accessibility statement and contact method promptly.
  • Use WCAG 2.1 AA as the working standard for audits and fixes.
  • Report issues first to the public body; use EHRC for equality-related complaints.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018
  2. [2] GOV.UK - Accessibility requirements for public sector websites and apps
  3. [3] Equality and Human Rights Commission - Equality Act 2010 guidance

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