- Judges to get new powers to keep lock offenders in cells and
restrict social visits
- Builds on reforms giving judges powers to order offenders
into the dock to face justice
- Part of wider Government reforms to put victims first and
ensure offenders are brought to justice
Killers who refuse to face their victims' families at sentencing
could be stripped of privileges or kept in cells for weeks on end
under tough new rules announced today (22 October).
The government has already changed the law so offenders who
refuse to attend sentencing can face a fine or up to two years'
additional imprisonment for contempt of court. But for murderers
already facing decades behind bars, this can offer little
deterrent.
The new powers will allow Crown Court judges to impose prison
sanctions on offenders who refuse to attend sentencing, including
restricting social visits for almost a month - ensuring even
those facing decades behind bars have something more to
lose.
This means notorious killers including Thomas Cashman and Jordan
McSweeney who refused to appear in court to hear their sentences
could have faced additional judge-imposed punishments had these
rules been in place at the time.
Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending
said:
"Criminals should not be able to pick and choose when they face
justice.
"Refusing to turn up to sentencing is an insult to victims and
their families, and offenders must face the consequences.
"We committed to change this and we've already strengthened the
law so offenders can be ordered into court. Now we're going
further, giving judges tougher punishments for those who still
refuse from being confined to their cells for weeks to losing
prison privileges and visits."
Under new rules laid before Parliament today, judges will be able
to impose a range of sanctions, including:
- Loss of prison privileges for almost three months (84
days).
- Cellular confinement for up to three weeks (21 days).
- Loss of social visits for nearly a month (27 days).
- Restrictions on social visits to once every four weeks, for
almost three months (84 days).
The move builds on wider reforms which give judges the power to
order offenders to attend sentencing and those who still refuse
could now face additional prison sanctions. This is on top of the
powers that allow judges to impose longer sentences.
The Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire
Waxman OBE, said:
Today's announcement reflects the tireless efforts of victims'
families who refused to accept that offenders could simply opt
out of facing justice.
Having worked with the families of Sabina Nessa, Zara Aleena and
Jan Mustafa, I know how offenders' refusal to attend sentencing
hearings compounds trauma and robs families of one of the very
few moments of accountability in the justice process. Their
determined campaigning, alongside that of Olivia Pratt-Korbel's
family, helped ensure that this harm could no longer be ignored
It is now essential that these powers are used consistently by
courts and prisons, so families receive the justice and
accountability they deserve.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The measures will come into effect next year, after the
regulations have been through the usual parliamentary
process.
- For offenders aged 18 to 20 held in Young Offender
Institutions, judges will be able to remove privileges for up to
21 days or impose cellular confinement for up to 10 days.
- In line with the Government's commitment to supporting
children of prisoners, visits from prisoners' children will be
exempt, helping to maintain family ties where safe, appropriate
and in the child's best interests.
- The new sanctions can be imposed instead of, or in addition
to, other penalties available to the court.
- The powers also cover offenders who attend sentencing but are
removed from court for disruptive behaviour.
- No measure can guarantee prisoners attend their sentencing
hearing, but these powers strengthen the consequences for
offenders who refuse to comply with a court order and ensure they
can be appropriately punished.
