The Sentencing Council provides judges and magistrates with guidance to help ensure consistency of sentencing in courts throughout England and Wales. “The recording and sharing of photographs and video footage has become increasingly common,” the Sentencing Council notes. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “This is a consultation by the independent Sentencing Council and no decisions have been made. “The Justice Secretary has been clear the youth justice system needs improvement and commissioned Charlie Taylor to undertake a review, which will be published later this year.” The 90-page review of recommendations to judges and magistrates who deal with under-18s stresses the need to “avoid criminalising young people unnecessarily”.

Source: The Guardian May 11, 2016 17:22 UTC