THE widespread adherence to a “colour-blind” and “race neutral” justice system is a barrier to  challenging and eradicating racist and discriminatory practice, according to research published today.

The report by the Howard League for Penal Reform and University of Essex senior sociology lecturer Dr Alexandra Cox looks into the stark racial and ethnic disparities at all levels of the criminal justice system in England and Wales.

It finds that lawyers are in a unique position to identify and challenge racism, but their knowledge and experience has been under-researched.