The proposed legislation will allow dock officers to use 'reasonable force' to get them into the courtroom
Criminals could soon be ordered to face their sentencing hearing in court — including being brought before a judge by force — under proposed new laws.
The plans have been confirmed by the government, which will allow judges to compel an offender to sit in the dock. Those who still refuse to do so could also face an extra two years in jail if they ignore a judge’s order and continue to refuse to attend court, with such penalties applying in cases where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
The reforms will allow dock officers to use "reasonable force" to get criminals into court. They can also appear from prison via video link.The changes have been brought in after two notable killers — murdering baby nurse Lucy Letby and Thomas Cashman, who shot nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel dead in Liverpool — refused to go before the court to learn their fate.
It comes after Letby also refused to appear for her sentencing earlier this month. And Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described it as “unacceptable” that some criminals have refused to face their victims.
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