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UK Government Introduces Bill to Block Sentencing Guidelines Addressing Racial Disparities

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood defends the move as necessary to preserve equality before the law, while critics argue it undermines efforts to address systemic bias.

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Ministers will also enact a wider reform of sentencing to ease overcrowding in prisons
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Overview

  • The UK government has introduced legislation to block Sentencing Council guidelines requiring pre-sentence reports for minority and vulnerable groups, citing concerns about perceptions of preferential treatment.
  • Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the guidelines risked eroding public confidence in the justice system by creating a perception of unequal treatment.
  • The Sentencing Council, which suspended the guidelines under political pressure, argued they were designed to address well-documented racial disparities in sentencing outcomes.
  • Critics, including legal advocacy groups and MPs, condemned the government's intervention as a setback for addressing systemic racism in the justice system.
  • The debate has raised questions about judicial independence, with some calling for a review of the Sentencing Council's role and its members' accountability.