“My conclusion is that BAME individuals still face bias, including overt discrimination, in parts of the justice system,” the MP says in his report. His report concludes there is overt racial prejudice in Britain’s criminal justice system, although it is declining. Consequently, black defendants lose the opportunity of reduced sentences through early guilty pleas and distrust in the system is reinforced. Encouraging the criminal justice system to work more closely with local communities would also increase public acceptance. “The review calls on all parts of the criminal justice system to be more open to external scrutiny, have rigorous internal oversight, and to develop a diverse workforce as we have done and will continue to do,” she said.

Source: The Guardian September 07, 2017 23:01 UTC