Key facts
- New UK legislation allows judges to impose additional penalties on criminals who refuse to attend sentencing.
- Punishments include solitary confinement, loss of prison privileges, and restricted visits.
- Measures follow cases where murderers refused to attend court for sentencing.
- Parental responsibility will be restricted for offenders convicted of serious sexual abuse against their child.
New legislation in the UK will introduce tougher penalties for convicted criminals who refuse to attend their sentencing hearings. The measures, part of the Victims and Courts Act, aim to ensure offenders face justice and acknowledge their crimes. Judges will have the power to impose additional punishments, ranging from confinement to cells to loss of prison privileges, for a limited period.