Overview

• The Sentencing Council issued new guidelines advising judges to consider the background of minority offenders when determining sentences, effective April 1.
• Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has strongly opposed the guidance, arguing it undermines the principle of equal treatment under the law.
• Mahmood has demanded an urgent meeting with the Sentencing Council and is considering legislative changes to reverse the policy.
• The guidelines were influenced by the 2017 Lammy Review, which highlighted racial disparities in the criminal justice system and recommended greater use of pre-sentence reports.
• Critics, including Conservative leaders, claim the guidance creates a 'two-tier' justice system, with accusations of bias against white male and Christian offenders.