A new law will force criminals to attend their sentencings in court, with the offenders facing longer behind bars if they still refuse to sit in the dock.

The government confirmed its plans to introduce the reform on Wednesday, promising to create a new power for judges to make the order.

The change will also allow custody officers to use “reasonable force” to make offenders appear, “meaning every effort will be made for victims and their families to see justice delivered”.

However, the timetable for the legislation to be brought in is not yet clear – with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak only saying it would happen in the new session of parliament, starting next week.

And the decision on whether to make the order will remain with judges, while prison staff and custody officers will be left to decide whether the use of force is reasonable and proportionate in each case.

Politicians have touted the idea before, with former justice secretary Dominic Raab outlining his intentions back in April after the murderer of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Thomas Cashman, refused to appear.

But this latest announcement comes after the case of Lucy Letby, the neo-natal nurse convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six other infants, who became the latest criminal not to attend her own sentencing.

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Lucy Letby was convicted in August

The incident saw calls for legislation, especially from bereaved families, growing louder, with one relative of a victim of Letby’s describing her refusal to come to the dock as a “final act of wickedness from a coward”.

Speaking to reporters after the announcement, Mr Sunak said: “Like many, I was appalled that people that have committed awful crimes are somehow able to take the coward’s way out and not appear in court for their sentencing and to hear the impact that their crimes have had on the victims’ families.

“I don’t think that’s right. There shouldn’t be an easy way out. And that’s why we’re going to change the law so that courts can compel these offenders to be present for their sentencing and to hear the impact that their actions have had.

“I think that’s the right thing to do. People rightly expect criminals to face up to the consequence of their actions. They shouldn’t be able to take the easy way out and I’ll change the law and ensure that that is what happens.”

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Justice Secretary Alex Chalk added: “Every time a cowardly criminal hides from justice by refusing to appear in the dock for their sentencing it is another insult to their victims and their families.

“Our reforms will give judges the power to order offenders to come to court to hear the impact of their crimes directly from victims, so that they begin their sentences with society’s condemnation ringing in their ears.”