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Sanctions for skipping sentencing

“The new powers will allow Crown Court judges to impose prison sanctions on offenders who refuse to attend sentencing, including restricting social visits for almost a month - ensuring even those facing decades behind bars have something more to lose.”

PromisedPress release (Ministry of Justice), 22 Oct 2026Quote checked word for word at its source on 25 October 2026
  1. Promised

Where it stands

The rules were laid before Parliament on 22 October 2026. The release says judges could impose loss of prison privileges for up to 84 days, among other sanctions, on offenders who refuse to attend their sentencing. It says the measures will take effect next year after the usual parliamentary process, read here as by 31 December 2027. The card moves when the rules come into force.

What has happened

  1. Oct 2026The government lays rules letting Crown Court judges impose prison sanctions on offenders who refuse to attend sentencing, Promised
  2. Dec 2027Sanctions for refusing to attend sentencing due in force next year (editorial date: end of 2027), Deadline

About the cost

No cost has been published.

More detail

Sources (1)
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