Judges in England and Wales to get power to order offenders to attend sentencing

Judges will be given the power to order an offender to attend a sentencing hearing, including by force if necessary, under new laws proposed by the Ministry of Justice.

The move in England and Wales comes after a number of high-profile offenders failed to appear for their sentencing hearings including the baby-killing nurse Lucy Letby and the murderer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

The power of custody officers to use reasonable force to make criminals appear in the dock or via video link will also be enshrined in law, meaning every effort will be made for victims and their families to see justice delivered, the MoJ said.

If a criminal continues to resist attending their sentencing despite a judge’s order, they will face an extra two years behind bars. This new penalty will apply in cases where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, including serious sexual or violent crimes such as murder, rape, and grievous bodily harm with intent.

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “It is unacceptable that some of the country’s most horrendous criminals have refused to face their victims in court. They cannot and should not be allowed to take the coward’s way out.

“That’s why we are giving judges the power to order vile offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, with those who refuse facing being forced into the dock or spending longer behind bars.”

Legislation to introduce the changes will be set out in due course, the MoJ added.

More details soon …