CRIMINALS will face tougher punishments under Tory plans to scrap the Sentencing Council and end “two-tier justice”.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick will tomorrow unveil the move.
Robert Jenrick will vow to stop woke judges dishing out soft punishments for serious offenders[/caption]
He will vow to stop woke judges dishing out soft punishments for serious offenders.
He will also blast the current system as “a two-tier nightmare” and say it is time to put the British people back in charge of justice.
The Sentencing Council, set up by Labour, tells judges how long to jail offenders.
But it sparked fury earlier this year after suggesting that judges take into account a criminal’s race, religion or background before sentencing.
The plan triggered a major backlash and ministers were forced to use emergency laws to block it.
Labour has since tightened its grip on the watchdog, giving ministers new powers to veto any future guidelines as part of the new Sentencing Bill.
Under Tory plans unveiled in Manchester, those powers would go further, with sentencing policy set by elected ministers, not unelected quangos.
Mr Jenrick said: “The Sentencing Council is not fit for purpose. Never again can the British people face the prospect of two-tier justice.
“All too frequently the law is not applied equally. No more. In future, the Justice Secretary, accountable to Parliament, will be responsible for setting sentencing policy.”
The Tories say sentencing has gone soft even for serious crimes.
Under current guidelines, assaulting an emergency worker can mean 12 months, despite MPs doubling the maximum to two years in 2018.
A Labour spokesman yesterday said: “The Conservatives backed the proposed changes to pre-sentencing reports when they were announced.”
