Law forcing criminals to be in court for sentencing set to be in King's Speech

The Justice Secretary has hinted that a law allowing judges to force convicted criminals to be in court for their sentencing will be included in the King's Speech. Alex Chalk said this decision was made after discussions with the judiciary.

Mr Chalk told the Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee about plans to make criminals physically present for sentencing hearings. He said: "we will legislate in the coming session and we will get on the statute before the general election".

The Cabinet minister had vowed to look at changing the law after a number of high-profile murderers opted against returning to the dock to hear their judge's sentencing remarks, including the killers of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa.

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Calls to update legislation intensified when baby murderer Lucy Letby refused to come up from her cell in August.

Mr Justice Goss sentenced Letby to a whole life order in her absence after she was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit in 2015 and 2016. The judge said the 33-year-old, the most prolific child serial killer in modern British history, would spend the rest of her life in jail for her "cruel, calculated and cynical campaign" at the hospital where she worked.

The Justice Secretary told peers on Wednesday that there was "proper public interest" in strengthening the law so that "those who have shattered lives, betrayed trust and destroyed families should be in court to hear