Warning over proposed law forcing offenders in the UK to attend sentencing

Some victims and campaigners hailed a government promise of new legislation to force serious offenders to attend their sentencing.

Ministers have promised new legislation to give judges the power to force offenders to attend sentencing hearings (Peter Byrne/PA)

UK ministers have been warned that plans to give judges the power to order offenders to attend sentencing hearings could prove harder to implement in practice.

Some victims and campaigners, including the mother of shooting victim Olivia Pratt-Korbel, hailed a government promise of new legislation to force serious offenders to attend their sentencing.