Criminals who skip sentencing will face solitary confinement or lose social visits

In England and Wales, judges will gain powers next year to keep prisoners in their cells for up to three weeks, suspend social visits for nearly a month and remove privileges for longer if they refuse to attend sentencing. Similar but shorter restrictions may apply to offenders aged 18 to 20, while visits from prisoners’ children will be exempt. Prisons Minister Catherine McKinnell said offenders must face justice, while Prison Reform Trust chief executive Pia Sinha called for evidence that the sanctions will improve attendance and warned they could affect prisoners’ relatives. The families of Sabina Nessa, Zara Aleena and Jan Mustafa have previously called for changes after their loved ones’ killers skipped sentencing.