A Bill to Make provision about the experience of victims within the criminal justice system; about the functions of the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses; and about procedure and the administration of criminal justice.
Parliamentary stages
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1 The Victims and Courts (VAC) Bill will make provision about victims and about procedure connected to criminal justice and the administration of criminal justice so far as they relate to the prosecutorial function and sentencing.
2 First, the Bill will give courts an express statutory power to require offenders to attend their sentencing hearing and states that they commit a criminal contempt if they fail to comply with such an order without reasonable excuse. This provision applies to all offenders being sentenced in the Crown Court. This clause also makes it clear that reasonable force may…