*/
Race-blind prosecuting decisions, deferred prosecutions and the publication of judicial sentencing remarks were among the recommendations of a report from Labour MP David Lammy.
The proposals are designed to combat what the review found to be racial bias and discrimination in the criminal justice system.
The review showed that people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds make up 25% of the prison population and 41% of the youth justice system, despite being 14% of the general population.
It found a lack of trust of legal-aid funded solicitors, who the report said were often viewed as representing ‘the system’ rather than their clients’ interests.
It recommended that the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency should work with the Law Society and Bar Council to experiment with different approaches to explaining legal rights and options to defendants.
These could include intermediaries to give suspects in custody a choice between different duty solicitors and earlier access to advice from barristers.
Robin Allen QC, Chair of the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity and Social Mobility Committee, said the publication was a major contribution to the important and urgent task of securing a fair and equal criminal justice system.
He said the report and its recommendations require proper consideration, and that the Bar Council would continue to play its part in developing initiatives, such as its ‘judgecraft’ foundation course which is ‘well on foot’.
He called on the Treasury to find the funds for the Ministry of Justice to take the proposals forward.
Race-blind prosecuting decisions, deferred prosecutions and the publication of judicial sentencing remarks were among the recommendations of a report from Labour MP David Lammy.
The proposals are designed to combat what the review found to be racial bias and discrimination in the criminal justice system.
The review showed that people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds make up 25% of the prison population and 41% of the youth justice system, despite being 14% of the general population.
It found a lack of trust of legal-aid funded solicitors, who the report said were often viewed as representing ‘the system’ rather than their clients’ interests.
It recommended that the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency should work with the Law Society and Bar Council to experiment with different approaches to explaining legal rights and options to defendants.
These could include intermediaries to give suspects in custody a choice between different duty solicitors and earlier access to advice from barristers.
Robin Allen QC, Chair of the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity and Social Mobility Committee, said the publication was a major contribution to the important and urgent task of securing a fair and equal criminal justice system.
He said the report and its recommendations require proper consideration, and that the Bar Council would continue to play its part in developing initiatives, such as its ‘judgecraft’ foundation course which is ‘well on foot’.
He called on the Treasury to find the funds for the Ministry of Justice to take the proposals forward.
Chair of the Bar reflects on 2025
Q&A with criminal barrister Nick Murphy, who moved to New Park Court Chambers on the North Eastern Circuit in search of a better work-life balance
Revolt Cycling in Holborn, London’s first sustainable fitness studio, invites barristers to join the revolution – turning pedal power into clean energy
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, reflects on how the company’s Giving Back ethos continues to make a difference to communities across the UK
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Sean’s Place, a men’s mental health charity based in Sefton, as part of its ongoing Giving Back initiative
Professor Dominic Regan and Seán Jones KC present their best buys for this holiday season
Little has changed since Burns v Burns . Cohabiting couples deserve better than to be left on the blasted heath with the existing witch’s brew for another four decades, argues Christopher Stirling
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
With automation now deeply embedded in the Department for Work Pensions, Alexander McColl and Alexa Thompson review what we know, what we don’t and avenues for legal challenge
