Sentencing Bill: Justice secretary and chief justice to jointly approve court guidance

Shiva K Dhakal
National Press Corporation(NPC),UK
The government of UK has announced new legislation requiring the Sentencing Council to secure approval from both the justice secretary and the lady chief justice before issuing any new guidance to courts in England and Wales. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood will also gain the power to block the council’s annual business plan, as part of reforms contained in the Sentencing Bill, which will be introduced in the Commons on Tuesday.

Under the new rules, either Mahmood or the head of the judiciary can veto guidelines — meaning no new sentencing policy can be issued without their consent. The Justice Department insisted the changes would not undermine judicial independence in individual cases, while Mahmood argued policy must remain the responsibility of parliamentarians “who answer to the people.”

The move follows a clash earlier this year, when ministers intervened to halt draft guidance that would have required pre-sentence reports for offenders from certain minority groups. Mahmood criticised the proposals as “differential treatment,” while her Conservative counterpart Robert Jenrick called them biased “against straight white men.” The reforms are part of wider sentencing changes aimed at tackling prison overcrowding, including tougher community punishments and expanded early release schemes.