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Judges are to be handed extra powers to order them to come to court with authorities able to use \u201creasonable force\u201d to make those convicted appear in the dock.<\/p>\n
Rishi Sunak said the new law would be introduced in Parliament this Autumn. It comes after a spate of cowardly murderers sparked outrage for refusing to appear, including baby killer Lucy Letby and drug dealer Thomas Cashman who gunned down nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister, who met Olivia\u2019s mother in No 10 to pass on the news personally, said offenders will no longer be allowed to take the \u201ccoward\u2019s way out\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cLike many, I was appalled that people who have committed awful crimes somehow are able to take the coward\u2019s way out and not appear in court for their sentencing and to hear the impact that their crimes have had on the victim\u2019s families.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s right. There shouldn\u2019t be an easy way out. \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re going to change the law so that courts could compel these offenders to be present for their sentencing and to hear the impact that their actions have had, but also, if necessary, to use reasonable force to bring those people to court, and also to add time on to their sentence if they don\u2019t appear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s the right thing to do. People rightly expect criminals to face up to the consequences of their actions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The promised reforms will cover those whose crimes carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, including offences such as murder, rape and grievous bodily harm with intent.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Horror as young woman raped in UK city centre on Bank Holiday weekend<\/strong><\/p>\n They will give custody officers the power to ensure those awaiting sentencing appear in the dock or via video link.<\/p>\n Those convicted could also face an extra two years in jail if they ignore a judge\u2019s order and continue to refuse to attend court, with such penalties applying in cases where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.<\/p>\n They will give custody officers the power to ensure those awaiting sentencing appear in the dock or via video link.<\/p>\n Those convicted could also face an extra two years in jail if they ignore a judge\u2019s order and continue to refuse to attend court, with such penalties applying in cases where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.<\/p>\n Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said earlier this year that ministers were committed to changing the law to force criminals to be sentenced in person.<\/p>\n Letby, 33, did not appear in court as she was handed a whole-life order for murdering seven babies and harming six others, prompting widespread anger over how callous killers are denying victims\u2019 families the opportunity to tell them how their crimes have affected them.<\/p>\n Olivia was gunned down by Cashman in a horrific shooting in Liverpool last year. The spineless criminal stayed in his cell as he was handed a minimum term of 42 years.<\/p>\n Her mother Cheryl Korbel described his cowardly absence from court as a \u201ckick in the teeth\u201d. She joined the families of murder victims Elle Edwards, Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa in demanding a law change.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk KC, said: \u201cEvery time a cowardly criminal hides from justice by refusing to appear in the dock for their sentencing it is another insult to their victims and their families.<\/p>\n \u201cOur reforms will give judges the power to order offenders to come to court to hear the impact of their crimes directly from victims, so that they begin their sentences with society\u2019s condemnation ringing in their ears.\u201d<\/p>\n Zara Aleena\u2019s killer Jordan McSweeney also refused to attend court when he was handed a 38-year minimum term for the 35-year-old aspiring lawyer\u2019s brutal murder.<\/p>\n Her aunt Farah Naz said she and Zara\u2019s gran were \u201cdenied the chance to look him in the whites of his eyes and read out victim impact statements\u201d.<\/p>\n Others who have avoided their sentencing recently include Koci Selamaj who murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, 28.<\/p>\n Another is Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi. He was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and given 55 years in jail but refused to attend court for much of the proceedings.<\/p>\n Ms Korbel said she hoped that Olivia was \u201cproud of what we\u2019ve done\u201d. \u201cBecause at the end of the day, it\u2019s in her name, it\u2019s why we\u2019ve done this. And not only in her name, it\u2019s for every other family out there that has gone through it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just hope it gets changed so no-one else has to go through it,\u201d she told ITV. Mr Sunak presented Ms Korbel with a Point of Light Award, given to outstanding volunteers who make a change in their community, during their meeting. The proposed law change was welcomed by the legal profession.<\/p>\n Chair of the Bar, Nick Vineall, said: \u201cWe welcome the Ministry of Justice\u2019s decision to leave it to judges to decide how to deal with individual cases in the interests of justice.<\/p>\n \u201cJudges will use their discretion to guard against the danger of allowing a convicted defendant to disrupt sentencing hearings.\u201d<\/p>\n But former prison officer Bryn Hughes – whose daughter Pc Nicola Hughes was killed in 2012 alongside fellow Pc Fiona Bone in a gun and grenade ambush in Greater Manchester – said the idea is \u201cfraught with danger\u201d.<\/p>\n He said that he had seen the behaviour of prisoners forced into courtrooms: \u201cFoul abuse towards the family, abused the court, turned their back, kicked off, fought, spat, bitten people.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are beyond being told to sit down and be quiet, aren\u2019t they?\u201d Labour accused ministers of being too slow to introduce reforms to force offenders to attend sentencing hearings.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is disrespectful and grossly offensive to victims that brutal murderers, terrorists and rapists can refuse to face the consequences of their crimes in court,\u201d shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said “If the defendant doesn\u2019t come and face justice, it\u2019s beyond cowardly and can have a devastating impact on victims and their families. This can be a vital part of seeing justice done.<\/p>\n \u201cWe called for new laws on this back in April last year \u2013 but the Conservatives have dragged their feet. \u201cThis is the fourth time in over 18 months the Government has promised action \u2013 and yet again they have failed to outline a proper timeline on when they will act.<\/p>\n \u201cIn government, Labour will give judges the power to force offenders to face justice in court. The families of victims deserve nothing less.\u201d<\/p>\n The general secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA) said there is no need for reforms. Steve Gillan said: \u201cBoth political parties are trying to outdo each other on who can be tough on crime because there\u2019s no need for legislation,<\/p>\n actually, and the reason there\u2019s no need for legislation is because the courts have got the power to tell a governor that he wants a prisoner produced in his court.<\/p>\n \u201cJudges hold that power. Judges are very powerful people. He added: \u201cSo the powers are already there, always have been and I\u2019ve been around for 30 odd years but having said that, 99 percent of prisoners do attend without any qualms or anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4935232.jpg?r=1693422716087\")
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