New sentencing guidelines spark outrage
Criminals from ethnic, religious, and gender minorities could receive softer sentences under new rules that require judges to consider these characteristics when determining punishment. The Sentencing Council announced a significant expansion of criteria for providing pre-sentence reports to the court, which are typically used to assess whether an individual should be incarcerated.
Backlash against the 'two-tier justice' system
The updated guidelines, set to take effect from April 1, have stirred controversy over concerns that individuals from different ethnic and faith backgrounds might be treated unequally under the law. Critics, including Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick and Reform MP Rupert Lowe, have denounced the move as creating bias against white and Christian individuals within the justice system.
Government response and call for reversal
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has condemned the new rules and called for a reversal, stating that differential treatment based on ethnicity or religion will not be tolerated under her leadership. Despite her disapproval, it was revealed that one of her representatives was present during the drafting of the controversial guidelines.
Sentencing Council's perspective
The Sentencing Council defended the changes, emphasizing the importance of providing courts with comprehensive information to determine appropriate sentences tailored to each offender and offense. The council, chaired by Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, consists of judges and legal figures who offer guidelines for sentencing decisions.
