As at June 1988, among the male population, 84 per cent were white, 9 per cent were of Afro-Caribbean origin, and 3 per cent were of Asian origin. Among the female population, 69 per cent were white, 19 per cent were of Afro-Caribbean origin, and 2 per cent were of Asian origin. The proportion of those of Afro-Caribbean origin is steadily increasing. 25. These figures are sometimes said to reflect discrimination against members of ethnic groups, or alternatively to reflect higher rates of offending or different patterns of offending, but the explanations are likely to be a good deal more subtle and complex. Information about patterns of offending - much of which is not reported or recorded and much of which, especially when it involves property offences, is not then cleared up - is too uncertain to support any general assertions about the ethnic background of offenders. 26. A recent government research study on sentencing at the Crown Court found no evidence of discrimination in sentencing. There is however evidence that members of ethnic minority groups are more likely to be stopped by the police, to be refused bail if they are arrested and charged, to plead not guilty, and to opt for trial before a jury where the choice is open to them. They are less likely to be the subject of a social inquiry report, but they will probably have had fewer previous convictions. They are more likely to be found not guilty or have their cases dismissed. 27. Several different factors may be at work to produce these results. One of them may be a lack of confidence in the criminal justice system, which leads members of ethnic minority groups to plead not guilty and to opt for 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the demographics and interactions of ethnic minority groups with the criminal justice system in the UK. It provides statistics on the racial makeup of the population and the sentencing patterns of ethnic minority groups, highlighting potential biases and disparities in the system. The text also touches on the psychological and social factors that may contribute to these disparities.

**Category**
Education, Employment