Mahmood: Scrap judges' 'two-tier' sentencing rules

GUIDELINES that could mean white crimi-nals get less favourable treatment by courts must be scrapped "as soon as possible", says Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

- Michael Knowles

Amid a row over a "two-tier" system she threatened to roll back the powers of the body responsible, the Sentencing Council.

It wants to "tailor" sentences to an offender's history and background.

Judges and magistrates have been told criminals "from an ethnic minority, cultural minority and/or faith minority community" should be specifically considered for pre sentence reports that could decide on jail.