The Right Honourable Boris Johnson MP

Yet, despite this commitment, Black, Asian and minority ethnic people continue to face much poorer outcomes than White people and have much lower levels of trust and confidence in the criminal justice system. [...] Black, Asian and minority ethnic children make up more than half of all children in custody, and they are more likely to be sent to prison to await trial and receive harsher sentences than White children. [...] However, the positive potential of these provisions will be undermined if the government presses ahead with wider changes which will sweep an increasing number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people into the criminal justice system for ever-increasing periods of their lives. [...] We call on the government to withdraw the elements of the Sentencing Bill which it concedes will increase racial disparity and launch a proper public consultation. [...] If the government takes the time to get this right, it can introduce legislation which improves — rather than worsens — outcomes for Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, and which makes our criminal justice system fairer and more effective for all.