Cross Justice Working Group on Race Data and Evidence

Overview

The issue of race equality has long been recognised as essential to ensuring the effective and fair operation of Scotland’s justice system, but recent events in the UK and internationally have brought this into even sharper focus. Concerns raised by the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as the differential impacts of COVID-19 on people from minority ethnic backgrounds, require an increased focus on issues of race and the experience of minority ethnic individuals in Scotland, in relation to the justice system in 2020. 

The establishment of an Expert Reference Group on COVID-19 and Ethnicity demonstrates the Scottish Government’s concern about reports from England and the USA that people from minority ethnic backgrounds may be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, both in terms of adverse health outcomes and in a wider context, including economically. The Group will help ensure there is an accurate understanding of COVID-19’s impact on minority ethnic communities in Scotland, and that our policy responses reflect this.

Members

• Scottish Government – Justice Analytical Services
• Scottish Government - Community Justice
• Scottish Government - Communities Analytical Division
• Scottish Government – Police Division
• Police Scotland
• Scottish Institute for Policing Research
• Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research
• Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
• BEMIS
• Community Justice Scotland
• Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary
• Coalition for Racial and Equality Rights
• Scottish Prison Service
• Scottish Legal Aid Board
• Scottish Police Services Authority
• Parole Scotland
• Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service

Publications

Cross Justice Working Group on Race Data and Evidence: terms of reference

Ethnicity in the Justice System

Cross Justice Working Group on Race Data and Evidence: Collecting and using staff equality data in the justice sector

Police recorded hate crime - characteristics: updated study

Hearings in Scottish courts - ethnicity of individuals: analysis

Equality duties for justice organisations: key messages