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The government has threatened to override the body advising judges in England and Wales in a row over how ethnic minority offenders should be sentenced, days before new rules are set to take effect.<\/p>\n
It comes after the Sentencing Council refused a request from the justice secretary for it to rethink new instructions for judges due to begin on Tuesday.<\/b><\/p>\n
Under the rules, judges will be expected to consider the lives of offenders from ethnic minority and other backgrounds before deciding on punishment.<\/p>\n
The guidelines have prompted a “two-tier” justice row, with critics arguing certain groups of people will be less likely to go to prison for a crime.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the guidelines would lead to “differential treatment” of offenders by courts.<\/p>\n
Downing Street said Sir Keir Starmer was “disappointed” the council had refused to change the guidance and “all options” were being considered in response, including passing legislation to block the changes.<\/p>\n
But shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, a vocal opponent of the new guidance, said the threat to legislate was “too little too late”.<\/p>\n
“From Tuesday, [Mahmood] will preside over a sentencing system she conceded is two-tier,” he added.<\/p>\n