Black barrister told defendants cannot park at east London court

A black barrister was told he could not park in an east London court car park because it was "not for defendants". Stephen Akinsanya, who received an OBE in June for his work raising awareness of youth knife crime, said the incident highlights persistent racial bias in the legal system.

Akinsanya described the encounter, which took place about four weeks ago, in a Criminal Bar Association podcast published this week. He said he was wearing his barrister’s attire, apart from his gown, when a security guard stopped him from entering the car park. When he asked why, the guard replied, "Defendants can’t park in the car park."

Akinsanya challenged the guard, who then raised the barrier to let him park. He told the podcast he was shocked that "people are still prejudging an individual" based on race. The barrister said the incident mirrored an experience from 1993, when he was first qualified and asked by a security guard which case he was on trial for.

Courts service apologised in 2020

The incident follows a 2020 apology from HM Courts and Tribunals Service after two black barristers were mistaken for defendants multiple times in a single day. One was stopped three times, the other twice. Akinsanya said the pattern suggests a broader issue within the criminal justice system.

Keir Monteith KC, who appeared on the same podcast, said many black barristers had experienced being asked to sit in the dock. He suggested that his own status as a KC and familiarity in certain courts may have reduced such incidents for him. Monteith co-authored a 2022 report that described the judiciary as institutionally racist.

Judicial diversity remains low

Judicial diversity statistics published last month show 79 black judges out of 5,337 in England and Wales. Only one, Mrs Justice Margaret Obi, holds a senior court position. The proportion of black judges has barely increased over the past decade, despite 4% of the population in England and Wales identifying as black.

Akinsanya said colleagues with over 40 years of experience had been overlooked for judicial appointments. He called for targets to improve representation and an independent body to hold the system accountable. Laurie Anne-Power KC suggested an oversight board to scrutinise the appointment process, comparing outcomes for white and black applicants.

Monteith criticised the "secret soundings" used in judicial appointments, where serving judges submit confidential assessments of candidates. He argued that merit should be judged on what candidates bring to the interview, not on informal discussions that candidates cannot challenge.

What happens next

It is unclear whether the courts service will investigate the incident involving Akinsanya. The Ministry of Justice has not responded to requests for comment on calls for an oversight board or targets for judicial diversity. The Criminal Bar Association has not announced any further action in response to the podcast.