PCC calls for action 'now' to make sure offenders appear in court for sentencing
Emily Spurrell made the plea during a major summit as part of the Face the Family campaign
Last updated 25th Aug 2023
Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner says 'we just have to keep making noise' when it comes to getting a law change to make offenders appear in court for sentencing.
Emily Spurrell attended a major summit as part of the Face the Family campaign.
It was launched when Thomas Cashman refused to appear in court after being found guilty of the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Dovecot.
In his absence, he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 42 years.
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Ms Spurrell has written to the Justice Minister and Victims Minister to call for action.
She said:
"The Victims Minister has replied to me to say they take it very seriously and they are looking at it.
"There's lots of positive words coming from government and from ministers, but obviously what we want to see is action and so very much supporting the work that Ian Byrne, our local MP, is doing to try and get that issue to parliament.
"They have to go on to be able to recover and heal"
"When I speak to victims and families, the justice system is one part of the process - locking somebody away isn't necessarily the end of the journey that they're going to go on, they have to go on to be able to recover and heal.
"Knowing that somebody understands the impact of what their crime has done to them and their family is an important part of that process and so I think the fact that somebody can continue to hold power over somebody they've already committed some of the worst offences against, by refusing to look them in the eye, actually listen and understand the impact of what they've done, that can have a huge impact on victims and families and it doesn't feel right they still have that power to do that.
"I think (changing the law) is something that we should be able to do quite quickly. My understanding is that they've got the Victims Bill going through parliament at the minute, why can we not add something to that that just gives that additional power to make sure that these people do come to court and hear the victim personal statement?
"We just have to keep making noise. We cannot let this fall down the list of priorities because it's clearly important to so many families and victims.
"Victims just don't feel heard"
"We don't have a justice system that currently works for victims. It is all about the criminal and the offender and I understand to a certain extent why, but the victims just don't feel heard.
"If we were to sit now and design a criminal justice system, it would not be the way that it is now because it is not designed for victims and their families who ultimately want this to provide them that closure.
"This is such a quick, simple thing that we could do that won't bring Olivia back but will help Cheryl (Korbel) and others who've been through this to get some of that closure and to know that individual has heard the impact that it's had."
Ministry of Justice spokesperson said:
“Defendants who hide from justice can prolong the suffering of victims and their families which is why we plan to change the law so offenders face up to their actions and victims can see justice being served.”