The Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has urged the Sentencing Council to abandon proposed changes which would weigh offenders' minority backgrounds more heavily in sentencing decisions. Highlighting concerns over potential bias and inequity, Mahmood criticized the reforms amid accusations from the Conservatives of establishing 'two-tier justice.' These new guidelines emphasize pre-sentence reports for more accurate insight into offenders' backgrounds, including ethnic minorities and other vulnerable groups, but Mahmood remains firm against any differential legal treatment.
As someone from an ethnic minority background, I do not stand for any differential treatment before the law, for anyone of any kind.
There will never be a two-tier sentencing approach under my watch.
The updated sentencing guidance places a greater emphasis on the need for pre-sentence reports for judges, addressing bias and promoting rehabilitation.
The council is advising that magistrates and judges obtain pre-sentence reports particularly for ethnic or faith minorities and vulnerable groups.
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