Justice secretary opposes two-tier’ sentencing plans

The justice secretary is calling for new guidance for judges to consider a defendant’s ethnicity when deciding whether to send them to prison to be reversed over concerns of two-tier sentencing”.

- ANAHITA HOSSEIN-POUR

The Sentencing Council published new principles for courts to follow when imposing community and custodial sentences, including whether to suspend jail time, yesterday.

The updated guidance, which comes into force from April, details that a pre-sentence report would usually be necessary before handing out punishment for someone of an ethnic, cultural or faith minority, alongside other groups such as young adults aged 18 to 25, women and pregnant women.

The independent body said a greater emphasis has now been placed on the “critical role” of pre-sentence reports, with more detail on when judges should request for the information to be compiled ahead of sentencing decisions. This includes details about the circumstances of the crime and the offender.