"The government is set to curb the Sentencing Council's powers after a row over sentencing criminals from ethnic minorities sparked accusations of two-tier justice. Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood will now have to approve all new guidelines issued by the council after she intervened to block measures requiring judges to seek pre-sentence reports when deciding punishments for certain minority groups. The guidelines were formulated by some of the most senior legal figures in England and Wales."
"Ms Mahmood asked for the Sentencing Council to reconsider amid controversy over the proposals, including accusations of two-tier justice from shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick. He said he would legally challenge the guidance on the grounds it enshrines anti-white and anti-Christian bias in the criminal justice system. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick accused the Sentencing Council plans of being two-tier justice' (PA) (PA Archive) Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also called for Ms Mahmood to change the law and said the Conservatives will back her."
The government will limit the Sentencing Council's autonomy by requiring Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to approve all new sentencing guidelines and obtain the Lady Chief Justice's approval before issuance. Mahmood intervened to block measures that would have required judges to seek pre-sentence reports for certain minority groups. The disputed guidelines responded to official figures showing offenders from ethnic minorities receive consistently longer sentences than white offenders. Opposition figures labelled the proposals 'two-tier justice' and threatened legal challenges alleging anti-white and anti-Christian bias. Mahmood used emergency legislation to block the guidelines and added a requirement for council approval of its annual business plan. The Ministry of Justice says judicial independence remains intact.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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