Judges to be given powers to force offenders to attend sentencing in person
It follows calls from Lisa Squire from Buckinghamshire, who's daughter Libby was murdered
Judges will be given the power to order an offender to attend a sentencing hearing, including by force if necessary, under new planned legislation announced by the Ministry of Justice.
The Government has promised legislation to force serious offenders to attend their sentencing, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling it “unacceptable” that some criminals have refused to face their victims.
It comes in the wake of a series of high-profile cases, including that of serial killer nurse, Lucy Letby, Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa.
The promised reforms will give custody officers the power to use “reasonable force” to ensure those awaiting sentencing appear in the dock or via video link.
Lisa Squire's support
A campaign calling for a change in the law has been supported by Lisa Squire from Buckinghamshire.
Her daughter Libby was a university student. She disappeared following a night out with friends on 31 January 2019 in Kingston upon Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Pawel Relowicz was charged with the rape and murder of Libby.
On 11 February 2021, he was convicted of both offences and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 27 years before he will be eligible for parole.
Speaking at a summit bringing together affected families, Lisa told us what it was like facing Libby's killer in court:
"I wanted him to show a bit of emotion and pretend he didn't do it... But he didn't, he just sort of took it and went down. So, it was very strange..."
"But had he not been there.. it would have been almost unbearable."
"Your loved one has ben taken from you and the person who did that is in the same space as you, so they should be forced to come up and have their sentence given to them - and you should be able to give your impact statement to them. Because it does make you feel very powerful"
"Not having that... sets you back again".
The Face the Family campaign was launched, after Liverpool schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel's murderer refused to come up from the cells to hear her family's victim impact statements.
Her family's taken to cities canvassing support for a change in the law - on a petition which has more than 38 thousand signatures.
The change means offenders who refuse could be forced into the dock by prison staff or receive an extra two years in prison.
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.”
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk KC, said: “Every 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.
“Our 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’s condemnation ringing in their ears.”