The government published an action plan designed to reduce the over-representation of young black people in the criminal justice system.
Source: Delivering Improved Outcomes for Young Black People in the Criminal Justice System (2008-2011), Ministry of Justice (020 7210 8500)
Links: Action plan | Hansard | MOJ press release
Date: 2007-Dec
An article examined the concept of 'race hate' that had emerged and flourished in British society in recent years. It discussed a number of inter-related issues that constituted important causal factors in articulations of 'race hate' among sections of the white working class. Many of these issues related to deep-seated structural factors like socio-economic marginalization and perceived challenges to hegemonic white identity.
Source: Diane Frost, 'The "enemy within"? Asylum, racial violence and 'race hate' in Britain today', Twenty-first Century Society, Volume 2 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
A new book examined the importance of social identities when considering crime, victimization, and criminal justice. It explored race equality and criminal justice; gender, crime, and victimization; the increasing role that faith communities played in community justice; hate crimes committed against individuals, motivated by prejudice; and community engagement and participation in criminal justice, community cohesion, and civil renewal.
Source: Basia Spalek, Communities, Identities and Crime, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Nov
Annual statistics were published under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 regarding black and minority ethnic communities within the criminal justice system. In 2006 members of BME communities were 7 times more likely than their white counterparts to be stopped and searched, 3-4 times more likely to be arrested, and 6 times more likely to be in prison.
Source: Alex Jones and Lawrence Singer, Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System – 2006, Ministry of Justice (020 7210 8500)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Oct
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on young black people and the criminal justice system. It said that it was drawing together existing and planned work in this area into a 'simple, cost-effective delivery strategy' to reduce unfair disproportionality for young black people; and that it would bring forward detailed operating proposals in December 2007.
Source: The Government's Response to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee Report: Young Black People and the Criminal Justice System, Cm 7214, Ministry of Justice, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report | MOJ press release
Date: 2007-Oct
A report examined the impact on racial equality of the government's Respect Action Plan (published in January 2006) against anti-social behaviour. It said that the existing respect agenda was too narrowly focused. It put forward an alternative policy framework for thinking about respect, designed to improve the lives of black and ethnic minority people – and to create a 'culture of respect' that would benefit all citizens.
Source: Omar Khan, The State of the Nation: Respect as a justification for policy, Runnymede Trust (020 7377 9222)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs called for a national strategy to cut the number of young black people involved in crime. It highlighted the problems of social exclusion, absent fathers, and a lack of role models.
Source: Young Black People and the Criminal Justice System, Second Report (Session 2006-07), HC 181, House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | YJB press release | Nacro press release | Mayor of London press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Socialist Worker report
Date: 2007-Jun
A study examined whether the juror-summoning process discriminated against black and minority ethnic (BME) groups; whether jurors serving at crown courts were representative of the local population in terms of ethnicity, age, gender, employment, income, and religion; and whether a defendant's ethnicity affected the decision-making of racially-mixed juries. Race did not affect the verdict of mixed-race juries: but not enough was known about all-white juries
Source: Cheryl Thomas with Nigel Balmer, Diversity and Fairness in the Jury System, Research Report 2/07, Ministry of Justice (020 7210 8500)
Links: Report | MOJ press release | UCL press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Jun
An article presented the findings of a post-custody study of the experiences of young black people in the youth justice system in England and Wales.
Source: Jane Hill, 'Daring to dream: towards an understanding of young black people's reflections post-custody', Youth Justice, Volume 7 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Mar