Government Considers Emergency Legislation to Counter Sentencing Council's New Guidelines

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood criticizes the guidelines as 'differential treatment,' while the Sentencing Council defends them as an effort to address systemic bias.

The Sentencing Council has rejected calls from Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to revise new sentencing guidelines set to take effect on April 1, 2025.
The guidelines recommend pre-sentence reports for offenders from ethnic, cultural, and faith minorities, as well as other specific groups like young adults and pregnant women.
Mahmood and Prime Minister Keir Starmer are exploring emergency legislation to override the guidelines, citing concerns about fairness and public confidence in the justice system.
The Sentencing Council defends the guidelines as a measure to ensure fair sentencing and address disparities highlighted by the 2017 Lammy Review.
The government is also reviewing the role and independence of the Sentencing Council, with some politicians calling for its abolition.