"PA Media The justice secretary will be able to veto any new changes to sentencing guidelines proposed by an independent public body, the justice department has said. Shabana Mahmood said the change will "right the democratic deficit that has been uncovered" by ensuring the Sentencing Council can no longer issue new guidelines without her approval. The changes will be brought in as part of the Sentencing Bill, being introduced in the House of Commons on Tuesday."
"The Justice Department said the reforms do not interfere with the independence of judges in making individual sentencing decisions. Mahmood said: "Individual sentencing decisions will always be the responsibility of the independent judiciary and this is something I will staunchly defend." "However, policy must be set by parliamentarians, who answer to the people. "It is right that we now have greater democratic and judicial oversight of the direction of the Council's work and the final guidelines they publish.""
The justice secretary and the lady chief justice will each gain individual powers to require their approval before the Sentencing Council can issue future guidelines, allowing either to block guidance. The Sentencing Council must also obtain the justice secretary's approval to sign off its annual business plan. The changes will be implemented through the Sentencing Bill introduced in the House of Commons. Ministers intervened after the council proposed advising judges to seek extra background information on offenders from certain minority groups. The Justice Department said the reforms do not interfere with judges' independence. The package also includes Texas-style earned release and tougher community punishments to address prison overcrowding.
Read at www.bbc.com
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