Study Finds British Accent Bias Influences Perceptions of Criminality

Research reveals that accents tied to lower social status are more likely to be associated with criminal behavior, raising concerns about bias in the UK justice system.

A study involving 180 UK participants found that regional accents perceived as lower status are more likely to be associated with criminal behavior.
The Liverpool accent was most linked to criminality, while Received Pronunciation (RP) accents were seen as the least likely to commit crimes, except for sexual assault.
Participants rated accents on social traits and behaviors, highlighting unconscious stereotypes that connect working-class accents with negative assumptions.
The findings raise concerns about potential biases in the criminal justice system, including voice evidence and witness testimony evaluations.
Researchers recommend pre-testing for accent bias in legal contexts and drafting guidelines to mitigate the impact of these stereotypes.