London – Robert Jenrick, the Conservative Party's Shadow Justice Secretary, has declared a mission to combat what he describes as "growing lawlessness" across the United Kingdom. His stance, articulated in an interview with Visegrád 24, focuses on three key areas: migrant crime statistics, the ongoing grooming gang scandal, and concerns over a perceived two-tier justice system. The interview, conducted in London, highlights the Conservative Party's renewed emphasis on law and order ahead of upcoming political developments.
Mr. Jenrick has been a vocal critic of current government approaches to crime, advocating for more stringent measures. He recently called for the government to empower police with greater force to compel offenders to attend sentencing hearings, aiming to "rebalance the criminal justice system in the favour of victims." This aligns with his broader proposals to toughen the approach to criminals in court.
Regarding migrant crime, Jenrick has repeatedly asserted that mass immigration contributes to a surge in serious and violent crime in Britain. He has cited Freedom of Information requests suggesting that "66 nationalities have higher conviction rates than British citizens and foreign nationals are 71 per cent more likely to be convicted of sex crimes." He has pushed for the publication of detailed crime data by nationality, arguing that the public deserves "the truth about migrant crime and the costs of low-skilled immigration."
The Shadow Justice Secretary also addressed the "grooming gang scandal," a long-standing issue involving the sexual exploitation of vulnerable girls, often by groups of men, predominantly of British-Pakistani heritage, as highlighted in various reports including Baroness Louise Casey's audit. Jenrick has previously stated that the ethnicity of perpetrators was "shied away from" by authorities, leading to continued abuse. The Labour government recently announced a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs following Casey's recommendations.
Jenrick has further expressed concerns about a "two-tier justice" system, particularly criticising new sentencing guidelines that he argues show "blatant bias" against certain groups. He has demanded the Law Society withdraw guidance that he claims "seeks to divide people on the basis of race and ethnicity," arguing it could lead to people from minority groups being treated more leniently. Visegrád 24, the interviewer, is a social media-based news aggregator known for its conservative and nationalist narratives, often focusing on Central and Eastern European affairs.