'Olivia's Law' to be given royal assent

A law designed to force criminals to be present in the dock for their sentencing hearings has cleared its final parliamentary stage and is set to become law.

The legislation, which was developed following he murder of Liverpool schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel, was passed by the House of Lords as part of the larger Victims and Courts Bill and is now awaiting royal assent.

Nine-year-old Olivia was killed in August 2022 when a gunman opened fire on the family home in Dovecot while chasing and trying to shoot a rival drug-dealer in a botched assassination.

Thomas Cashman, who was convicted of Olivia's murder, later refused to come up from his cell to hear the personal impact statements prepared by the Olivia's family.

Royal Assent is the final, purely-procedural stage of a bill in UK parliament before it becomes law.

The parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Justice, Baroness Leavitt KC, said during last week's hearing in the Lords: "It's been a pleasure to bring the Victims and Courts Bill through this house, which is now another step closer to becoming law.

"This bill will deliver on our manifesto commitment to support and protect victims, restore confidence in our justice system and implement swifter and fairer justice."

The law will give court staff powers to use reasonable force to force criminals to attend the hearings.

Should they still refuse, they can have time added to their sentence and privileges such as visiting rights stripped.

Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel, who led the campaign, said: "It's keeping Liv's legacy alive. With this law coming in, no other family is going to have to go through the same thing we did.

"I was thrown into a world that I was unaware of and knew nothing about. I'm not very political so to actually go and meet two Prime Ministers, it did blow my head a little bit. It just doesn't seem real."

Anneliese Midgely, the Labour MP for Knowsley, worked alongside Korbel to push for the law.

She told MPs in the House of Commons: "This is a law that has been fought for, and will be won, by my constituent Cheryl Korbel.

"This is all about Olivia, it is all about Cheryl and all about her cousin Antonia. This has been some journey for Cheryl and one that began in unimaginable circumstances.

"Olivia's murderer remained in his cell, refusing to face the court to hear Cheryl's words or look her in the eye. It was the act of a coward.

"We make sure that choice to turn away and hide is no longer an option."

A statement from Olivia's Butterfly Foundation, which was set up in the child's memory, thanked those who have helped the bill get to this stage.

"We couldn't be any more grateful of the hard work and support of those who have walked besides us during this fight, a fight that should never have been required," it said.

"In Olivia's name, no other families will have to face the denial of the beginning of closure in court."

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