UK Justice Secretary Plans Reversal of Controversial Sentencing Guidelines

The UK government is facing backlash over new sentencing guidelines that would require judges to consider a criminal's ethnicity when determining punishment, which critics argue promotes a 'two-tier' justice system. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has expressed her disapproval of these guidelines, stating she will communicate with the Sentencing Council to recommend their reversal, emphasizing her commitment to equal treatment under the law. Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged Mahmood to change the law to prevent the implementation of these guidelines, asserting that decisions should be made by ministers rather than independent bodies. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has also condemned the guidelines as 'dangerous social engineering,' while industry minister Sarah Jones highlighted the importance of maintaining public trust in a fair justice system. The changes, set to take effect in April, aim to consider various factors, including ethnic background, in sentencing decisions to address biases in the criminal justice system. However, government officials are unified in their call for a reassessment of this approach to avoid perceived inequality in legal proceedings.