The Latest Breaking News from the Sentencing Council

Jenrick targets the Sentencing Council and judicial powers in sweeping Tory justice reforms.

Ex-Conservative ministers denounce Robert Jenrick’s intention to abolish body that develops court guidelines

The Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reporters) Bill has received its second reading in the House of Lords.

New guidelines from the independent Sentencing Council were scheduled to come into force earlier this month but were delayed.

The proposals were brought forward following claims of a ‘two-tier’ justice system.

Letters: In response to the suspension of new sentencing rules, Cordella Bart-Stewart highlights the racial disparities that continue to dog the criminal justice system. Plus Francesca Cociani on the real-life consequences of the justice secretary’s culture war on sentencing

Society of Black Lawyers calls decision to block pre-sentencing reports ‘deliberate step backwards’

The Justice Secretary said ‘all must be equal before the law’ as the Government introduced a Bill following a row over guidelines.

Forcing the abandonment of commonsense, evidence-based guidelines is a new low for a party that once prided itself on justice reform, says Janey Starling of campaign group Level Up