UK Government Faces Criticism Over Gaps in Criminal Ethnicity Data

Calls grow for transparency as police and courts report increasing omissions in recording ethnicity of convicted offenders.

Government data reveals a significant rise in the failure to record ethnicity of convicted criminals across various crime categories over the past 15 years.
The proportion of sexual offences where ethnicity data is missing has nearly doubled, with similar trends observed in crimes such as robbery, drug offenses, and violent crimes.
Critics, including senior Tory MPs, claim the omissions reflect institutional fear of accusations of racism and a lack of transparency in the justice system.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has ordered police to address data gaps, particularly in child sexual exploitation cases, and announced a review into grooming gangs led by Louise Casey.
Labour ministers deny accusations of being influenced by social media pressure, emphasizing their focus on supporting victims and addressing systemic failures.