Commons Speaker backs 'Face the Family' campaign
Sir Lindsay Hoyle says killers should be forced to appear for their sentencing
Last updated 25th Aug 2023
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the latest to back the 'Face the Family' campaign.
It is calling for a change in the law so offenders have to appear in court when they're sentenced.
Last week the man who shot 9-year-old Olivia Pratt Korbel in her own home in Dovecot refused to come up from the cells to hear his sentence, or the victim impact statements from Olivia's loved ones.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle agrees they should have to be there to hear the victim impact statements:
What is the petition calling for?
The petition is calling for the government to introduce new laws which order an offender to be present in court for sentencing or face further punishment.
Following a number of high-profile cases where serious criminal offenders refused to be in the dock when their sentence is passed down, it is petitioning for a change in the law so they can be ordered to appear.
It calls for prison and court staff to be given powers to use reasonable force to get offenders into the dock - as they do to transfer them from a court to prison.
Why are there calls for this?
Families say they are currently being deprived the opportunity of gaining full closure and offenders have the power to deny them that.
They are calling for a shift in the law so that it empowers victims families and gives them every chance to witness justice be delivered.
When and how can I sign the petition?
You can sign the petition now by clicking here