James Wild MP urges Justice Secretary to extend powers to require offenders to attend sentencing hearing
During the Second Reading of the Sentencing Bill, James Wild MP urged the Justice Secretary to extend proposed powers to compel offenders to attend sentencing hearings.
Under current proposals this change which James has campaigned for would apply to offenders convicted of a sentence which must or may be a life sentence.
James considers this should be broadened to cover other serious offences which do not attract a maximum Iife sentence. In a case in North West Norfolk an offender convicted of sexual assault of a child under 13 refused to attend his sentencing hearing.
Text of exchange
James Wild MP
All the offences in clause 2 have a maximum life sentence, so the proposed new power to require offenders to attend sentencing hearings would apply. However, will my right hon. and learned Friend look at extending that
power? It would not cover other serious crimes, including serious sexual offences such as the sexual assault of a child under 13, as happened in a case in my constituency, where the offender hid in his cell. He would not be compelled to come to sentencing under the powers we are proposing.
Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk MP
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for raising that appalling case. It is important to note that in respect of this Bill and the provision to require offenders to serve the entirety of their sentence, clause 2 relates to section 8 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, on causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, so that is covered.
On my hon. Friend’s separate point about attendance, we are very clear, following the cases of Lucy Letby and others, that it is a grievous affront to victims and families for defendants who have been convicted, after a fair trial, not to face the music, in simple terms. They need to be there in front of the court so that they can hear society’s condemnation expressed through the sentencing remarks of the judge, and so that the peace that has been denied their victims should be denied them as well. They need to understand that condemnation. My hon. Friend raises an interesting point about the scope of the requirement for people to attend court; it is a fair one and we should certainly discuss that.
