Member

Only around 11% of court and tribunal judges are from ethnic minority backgrounds. A pre-sentence report gives them invaluable insight into the background and circumstances of an offender when considering a sentence. It is essential that judges are able to make fair and informed decisions in order to determine the appropriate action for the effective rehabilitation of offenders. If the words are changed, what measures will the Minister put in place to monitor the effect on the ethnic communities? It will not be sufficient to make this change and then not acknowledge the effect on minority groups or the prison population as a whole.