Sentencing body to review 'two-tier' justice objections

The Sentencing Council volition look again astatine arguments against its caller guidelines aft critics said they would make a "two-tier" justness system.

The assembly was criticised by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood aft saying it would counsel judges successful England and Wales to summation their absorption connected the lives of offenders from taste number and different backgrounds earlier deciding connected a punishment.

On Thursday, the Sentencing Council - which is autarkic but sponsored by the authorities - said it would look astatine her objections successful detail, but did not perpetrate to reversing people immediately.

Mahmood had criticised the guidelines and said she would not tolerate "differential attraction earlier the law".

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the justness caput held a "constructive meeting" with Sentencing Council leaders connected Thursday, aft which Mahmood said she would "set retired her presumption much fully" successful a letter.

The sentencing assembly agreed to "consider" the missive "before the line is owed to travel into effect" from April.

The reforms were powerfully criticised by shadiness justness caput Robert Jenrick erstwhile they were published past week. He told the Commons they would disadvantage achromatic offenders.

Mahmood said she would pass a caller instrumentality to overrule the council if necessary, triggering a stand-off betwixt the Ministry of Justice and the organisation it tasks with advising judges.

Initially the Sentencing Council pushed backmost against complaints from Mahmood and the Conservatives, and said ministers from some main parties had known astir its plans for caller guidance for judges since 2022.

In a six-page effect to Mahmood issued earlier this week, the Sentencing Council seat said the authorities could not "dictate" sentencing guidelines.

Lord Justice Davis said the caller guidance aimed to close disparities which pb to radical from taste minorities receiving longer sentences connected mean than achromatic offenders.

A reappraisal of the council's relation and powers is acceptable to instrumentality spot alongside the existing review into sentencing being led by erstwhile Tory curate David Gauke.