Olivia's Law receives Royal Assent and compels criminals to attend sentencing
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Apr 30
Olivia's Law receives Royal Assent and compels criminals to attend sentencing
7 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Apr 30
The UK measure was developed after nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead in Liverpool in 2022 and her killer Thomas Cashman refused to appear in court.
Now part of the Victims and Courts Bill, it lets court staff use reasonable force and could add time to sentences or remove privileges such as visits.
Campaigners led by Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel said the law would put victims and families first and help prevent others being denied justice and closure.
With court staff now empowered to use force, what will stop UK sentencing hearings from descending into violent confrontations?
Does forcing a killer to face their victims' family truly bring closure, or does it risk causing even greater trauma?