Justice Secretary to introduce emergency laws to stop courts adopting ‘two-tier sentencing’
THE Justice Secretary will introduce emergency laws this week in a desperate bid to stop courts adopting “two-tier sentencing”.
Shabana Mahmood will vow to override judges’ demands for different punishments depending on a criminal’s age, sex and ethnicity.
New rules from the Sentencing Council requiring courts to consider demographics are due to take effect tomorrow.
Despite weeks of pleas from Ms Mahmood, the quango has refused to scrap its recommendations.
In a last-ditch bid to prevent the move, emergency legislation will be rammed through the Commons ordering judges to ignore Sentencing Council advice.
Ministers hope it will pass through Parliament in 24 hours.
A source close to the Justice Secretary told The Sun: “We are going to introduce legislation as soon as possible this week and we will push it through.”
Analysis by the Conservatives last night showed extra pre-sentence reports could cost at least £17.5million per year.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “From Tuesday the taxpayer will be made to foot the bill for tens of millions of pounds for a justice system that is biased against white people.”
The Ministry of Justice said the Tory figures were “speculation”.
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