Convicted offenders who refuse to attend their sentencing hearing could face an extra two years in prison under reforms announced by the prime minister today.
The government proposes creating a new power for judges to order an offender to attend their hearing. Custody officers will be able to use ‘reasonable force’ to make defendants appear in the dock or via video link.
Defendants who defy a judge's order and refuse to attend their sentencing face an extra two years in prison. The new penalty will apply only in cases where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
Following serial killer Lucy Letby’s refusal to attend her sentencing hearing last month, lord chancellor Alex Chalk said the government is looking to change the law so that offenders can be compelled to attend sentencing hearings.
In today’s announcement, 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.’
The Ministry of Justice said it will remain for judges to decide whether to order an offender to court. Alternatively, they may decide to order the defendant not to attend if they believe the defendant might cause ‘significant disruption’.
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