Convicted Criminals who refuse to attend sentencing hearings

Justice is an important part of democracy, and to ensure public confidence, it has to be seen to be effective. That includes the handing down of a sentence to a criminal which reflects the seriousness of their crimes, and the opportunity for the victim's loved ones and family members to have their voices heard.

A number of recent high profile cases have caused anger and outrage to many:

• In 2023, Thomas Cashman failed to appear in court to receive a life sentence for the shooting of a nine year old girl, Olivia Pratt-Korbell, in Liverpool.

• Last year Lucy Letby, a nurse convicted of multiple child murders, refused to appear in court for futher proceedings.

• Earlier this year, Kyle Clifford, a man who used a crossbow and knife to kill three people, refused to appear in court for sentencing.

• Axel Rudakubana, who murdered three little girls attending a dance class in Southport, refused to attend some hearings and then disrupted his sentencing hearing until he was removed from the court.

These are all terrible people, who carried out terrible crimes, and the sentence they received should reflect what they've done and serve as proportionate and appropriate punishment for those acts. The sentencing hearing can be the start of the long, painful healing process for friends and families of the bereaved, when victim impact statements are read out, highlighting the loss caused by the criminal. It's an important opportunity to see justice finally being delivered for the victims.

So when the criminal refuses to engage with the process, or perhaps worse disrupts the sentencing hearing, it can be incredibly destructive and hurtful for those left behind.

I've read calls online for the criminals in these circumstances to be forced to attend the hearing - by being dragged into the court by police or security guards, held down and somehow forced to listen to the judge. I don't agree with these extreme ideas. There's the risk of injury being caused to the guards, or the criminal (perhaps giving them a claim against the prison service), and even if they're forced to be in court, they could still disrupt proceedings by shouting or making other interruptions.

The government's plan to address this issue is I think sound - by increasing the sentence, and/or reducing the prison priviledges of those who don't cooperate with the sentencing process. It seems simple and sensible. You can read more about these plans here.

I doubt that these changes will deter anyone from committing such appalling crimes in the future, but at least more families and loved ones will get their chance in court to see justice being done.