David Lammy is right. It will take more than simple policy change to tackle the racial discrimination that defines – and shames – our criminal justice system. Our experience shows that some of the biggest barriers to a fairer system are institutionalised and it is vital that government, the courts, probation service, youth offending teams and custodial settings are all led by Lammy’s principle of “explain or reform” to make inaction on racial and ethnic disparities a thing of the past.
As leaders of agencies working with men and women across the criminal justice system and/or members of the Young Review, we are committed to creating a system that no longer discriminates against men and women from BAME communities and to supporting the leaders of our justice system to achieve this. We start by calling on government to fully support Lammy’s recommendations and seize this opportunity to create a criminal justice system which delivers value, fairness and effectiveness for us all. We need a clear and transparent plan of practical action, and to increase public trust and confidence by involving BAME community groups and voluntary organisations to support every part of our justice system.
Baroness Young of Hornsey Chair, Young Review Adrienne Darragh CEO, Hibiscus Initiatives Patrick Williams Manchester Metropolitan University Julian Corner CEO, Lankelly Chase Diane Curry CEO, Partners of Prisoners Frances Crook CEO, Howard League for Penal Reform Richard Garside Centre for Crime and Justice Studies Katharine Sacks-Jones Director, Agenda Kathy Roberts Chief executive, Association of Mental Health Providers Chris Wright Chief executive, Catch22 Mifta Choudhury Youth-ink Christina Marriott CEO, Revolving Doors Agency Christopher Stacey Co-director, Unlock Peter Dawson Director, Prison Reform Trust Khatuna Tsintsadze Zahid Mubrek Trust Raheel Mohammed Maslaha Kate Paradine CEO, Women in Prison Whitney Iles CEO, Project 507 Sado Jirde Director, Black South West Network Omar Khan Runnymede Trust John Mayford Olmec Andy Gregg CEO, Race on the Agenda Neena Samota St Mary’s University Sara Llewellin CEO, Barrow Cadbury Trust Jeremy Crook CEO, Black Training & Enterprise Group Jacob Tas CEO, Nacro Shafiur Rahman Executive director, Osmani Trust