Offenders should be held accountable for their crimes, right down to the final moments when they are sentenced.
The reforms announced today (Wednesday 30 August) will create a new power for judges to order an offender to attend their hearings and make it clear – in law – that force can be used to make sure this happens. 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.
If a criminal continues to resist attending their sentencing despite a judge’s order, they will face an extra 2 years behind bars. This new penalty will apply in cases where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, including serious sexual or violent crimes like murder, rape, and grievous bodily harm with intent.
The change in the law follows the tireless campaigning of Farah Naz and Cheryl Korbel, alongside others like Ayse Hussein and Jebina Islam all of whom were denied the opportunity to see their loved ones’ killers face justice.
In August last year, Thomas Cashman shot dead 9-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, the daughter of Cheryl Korbel, in her own home and callously chose not to hear the impact her death had on her family at his sentencing.
In June the same year, Jordan McSweeney sexually assaulted and murdered Zara Aleena but decided he could not bear to listen to the details of his crime being repeated in court.
Judges will have the discretion to use these new powers as they see fit to ensure justice is done. This could include not ordering offenders to attend in cases where it is expected that they will cause significant disruption which would distress victims and their families.
Legislation to introduce these changes will be set out in due course.
Commenting, Leo Docherty MP said:
"It is unacceptable that some of the country's most heinous criminals have refused to face their victims in court. They cannot and should not be allowed to take the coward's way out.
"Reforms being enacted by the Government will now give judges the discretionary power to order criminals to attend their sentencing hearing - if they fail to do so, they will face up to two extra years in prison.
"This change will mean victims and their families will be able to read their impact statement to the offender directly, rather than addressing an empty dock."