Proposed powers to compel sentencing attendance raise serious prison safety concerns

Today, the Prison Reform Trust has published a new briefing ahead of the House of Commons second reading of the Victims and Courts Bill on 20 May 2025. The briefing focuses on Clause 1, which proposes new powers to compel attendance at sentencing hearings and introduces prison sanctions for non-compliance.

We raise serious concerns about the safety implications of these measures, including the increased use of force, risks to vulnerable individuals in the early days of custody, and the potential for greater violence and instability in prisons.