Courts in the UK are set to gain new powers to impose tougher punishments on offenders who refuse to attend sentencing hearings and face their victims’ families. The measures include penalties within prison, such as restricting time out of a cell and removing or limiting social visits.

Several outlets report that the Ministry of Justice has announced the change and that judges will be able to use the new powers at sentencing. BBC News and Sky News focus on the prison-based consequences of non-attendance, while The Mirror frames the policy in campaign terms and describes similar jail punishments.

Across the coverage, the core point is consistent: offenders who do not attend sentencing to hear from, or acknowledge, victims’ families may receive additional sanctions related to confinement and visiting. The main differences are in emphasis and tone rather than in the underlying policy description.