UK Government Moves to Block Sentencing Council's New Guidelines

Emergency legislation is being prepared to counter guidelines addressing sentencing disparities, as ministers criticize them for creating 'two-tier justice.'

The UK government is drafting emergency legislation to overrule Sentencing Council guidelines set to take effect on April 1, 2025.
The guidelines require pre-sentence reports for certain groups, including ethnic minorities, young adults, and pregnant women, aiming to address systemic sentencing disparities.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has called the guidelines 'unacceptable,' and Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that 'all options are on the table' to address the issue.
The Sentencing Council defends the guidelines as evidence-based measures to ensure fairness in sentencing decisions, despite government criticism of bias and 'two-tier justice.'
Long-term reforms are being considered to increase ministerial oversight of the Sentencing Council, potentially limiting its independence in future decisions.