Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Sentencing Hearings: Offenders’ Attendance

Tuesday 27 June 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ian Byrne raised concerns about the pain caused to families when offenders do not attend sentencing hearings.
  • The Secretary of State acknowledged the anguish felt by families and the need to address defendants' refusal to face consequences.
  • Ellie Reeves highlighted the Government's 13-year failure to compel criminals to attend courts, citing recent high-profile cases.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ian Byrne Lab Liverpool West Derby
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP has tabled an early-day motion highlighting the pain that families experience when offenders do not attend their sentencing hearing. This issue is pressing as it affects bereaved families who have to endure the absence of justice for their loved ones.

Question

I have recently tabled an early-day motion to put on record in the House formally the pain that the wilful absence of an offender at a sentencing hearing causes bereaved families. Will the Secretary of State explain why provisions cannot be included in the Victims and Prisoners Bill to change that? Will he meet me and Cheryl Korbel to discuss when legislation will be brought forward and how bereaved families can be at the heart of shaping a change in the law, to ensure that no bereaved family who has to suffer in the fight for justice will face that situation at sentencing ever again?

Answer from Alex Chalk

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this case and for rightly identifying the anguish, pain and insult that families feel when a cowardly defendant refuses to attend court. On his specific question, he will understand that there are issues of scope and all sorts of things as to whether legislative measures can be included within certain Bills, but of course I will be happy to discuss that with him. The central point, however, is that there is a cross-party belief that there needs to be some legislative progress—we are committed to that as well.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific meeting and shaping the legislation by bereaved families was not addressed

How: Issues Of Scope, Legislative Measures Can Be Included Within Certain Bills

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Q2 Ian Byrne Lab Liverpool West Derby
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP has brought up the issue of offenders avoiding their sentencing hearings, which causes immense pain to families and undermines justice. He references specific cases and emphasises the need for immediate legislative action.

Question

I have listened to what the Secretary of State has said, but the Government have had 13 years to compel criminals to attend courts to hear their sentences. The Government's failure to do that has meant that in the last year alone the killers of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa have all avoided hearing their sentences, and avoided hearing the impact that their callous crimes have had on the families left behind. Will the Government urgently make this simple change, and stop cowardly offenders from evading their sentencing hearings?

Answer from Alex Chalk

The hon. Lady raises an important point by referring to those three cases. What concerns me is that one defendant's actions could be copied by others, who take the view that that is somehow a way of getting away from the consequences of their actions. She makes it a political point—we are in the House of Commons, so I totally understand that—but I could equally make the point that the legislation was not changed pre-2010 either. We have seen the anguish caused by these actions, so let me make the point that I want to know that when an offender is sitting in a cell, trying to get to sleep when the rest of the world is getting to sleep, the judge's words of condemnation are ringing in their ears. There are victims who find it hard to ever recover, so why should that defendant ever be able to sleep soundly in their bed?

Not addressed: Urgent legislative change was not addressed

How: Legislation Was Not Changed Pre-2010

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Q3 Ellie Reeves Lab Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP discusses the issue of offenders avoiding their sentencing hearings, which has caused significant pain to families of victims. She mentions specific cases where killers have avoided hearing their sentences.

Question

I have listened to what the Secretary of State has said, but the Government have had 13 years to compel criminals to attend courts to hear their sentences. The Government's failure to do that has meant that in the last year alone the killers of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa have all avoided hearing their sentences, and avoided hearing the impact that their callous crimes have had on the families left behind. Will the Government urgently make this simple change, and stop cowardly offenders from evading their sentencing hearings?

Answer from Alex Chalk

The hon. Lady raises an important point by referring to those three cases. What concerns me is that one defendant's actions could be copied by others, who take the view that that is somehow a way of getting away from the consequences of their actions. She makes it a political point—we are in the House of Commons, so I totally understand that—but I could equally make the point that the legislation was not changed pre-2010 either. We have seen the anguish caused by these actions, so let me make the point that I want to know that when an offender is sitting in a cell, trying to get to sleep when the rest of the world is getting to sleep, the judge's words of condemnation are ringing in their ears. There are victims who find it hard to ever recover, so why should that defendant ever be able to sleep soundly in their bed?

Not addressed: Urgent legislative change was not addressed

How: Legislation Was Not Changed Pre-2010

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