Sentencing

BBC and Sky News reported that judges in England and Wales are to receive additional powers to sanction criminals who refuse to attend sentencing or face victims' families. The measures, presented to Parliament and expected to take effect next year, include keeping prisoners in their cells for up to three weeks, restricting social visits and limiting prison privileges. The government said the changes would stop serious offenders from choosing when they face justice, building on earlier powers that allowed judges to add to sentences or impose fines. Both channels linked the policy to high-profile cases. Zara Aleena was murdered in 2022 by Jordan McSweeney, who refused to leave his cell for sentencing, and her family said his refusal added to their grief. Olivia Pratt-Korbel, aged nine, was shot by Thomas Cashman, who refused to enter the dock for sentencing. Sky News reported that the measures followed what was originally called Olivia's Law, that Crown Court judges would use them at their discretion for serious cases such as murder or manslaughter, and that they would not come into force until around early next year. Sky News also reported that victims' families had welcomed the changes, with Zara Aleena's aunt Farah Naz describing sentencing as a moment of accountability. BBC News reported the government's view that the earlier sentencing powers had not deterred offenders already facing long sentences.

Key Claims by Channel

Claim
Widely reported · 5 or more of 6 channels
Judges in England and Wales are gaining new powers to punish offenders who refuse to appear for sentencing, with sanctions including cell confinement for up to three weeks, loss of prison privileges for almost three months, and restrictions on social visits.
Reported by a few · 2–4 channels
The measures were presented to Parliament and were due to take effect around early next year, after an implementation period.	Not reported by Channel 5			Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
An earlier law in April already allowed judges to add up to two years to sentences or impose a fine for non-attendance, but the government said this did not deter offenders already facing long sentences.	Not reported by Channel 5		Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4
Zara Aleena was sexually assaulted and murdered by Jordan McSweeney in 2022 as she walked home from a night out, and McSweeney refused to leave his cell for sentencing.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Reported by Sky News
Zara Aleena's family said McSweeney's refusal to attend sentencing added to their grief and left the justice process incomplete, while victims' families welcomed the changes and her aunt Farah Naz said sentencing was about accountability and a complete justice process.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Reported by Sky News
Olivia Pratt-Korbel, aged nine, was shot dead in Liverpool by Thomas Cashman, a drug dealer who had broken into her home, and he refused to enter the dock for sentencing; the measures followed what was originally called Olivia's Law.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Reported by Sky News
The government said offenders should not be able to pick and choose when they face justice.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Reported by Sky News
Only on one channel
Crown Court judges would use the powers at their discretion, normally for serious offenders such as those convicted of murder or manslaughter.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Reported by Sky News
The family of Olivia Pratt-Korbel welcomed the proposed measures but expressed strong disappointment at the time taken.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4		Not reported by Sky News
The measures followed years of campaigning by families including Zara Aleena's and Olivia Pratt-Korbel's.	Not reported by Channel 5		Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Not reported by Sky News
The Conservatives described the measures as only a small step in the right direction.		Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Not reported by Sky News

This is a cross-channel consensus summary, not an objective account. Consensus can be uniformly wrong, or omit what only one channel covered.