Barbed-wired fencing above brown brick walls with a security cameras are pictured at the HMP Wandsworth prison in London, England.Image source, Getty
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The new measures given to judges could see offenders confined to cells for up to three weeks

ByClaire Keenan
  • Published21 minutes ago

Judges in England and Wales will be given stronger powers to block prison visits and keep offenders in their cells for weeks on end if they refuse to face their victims' families during sentencing.

The tougher sanctions, due to come into effect next year, build on an existing law that orders criminals to attend sentencing or face being fined or jailed for another two years for contempt of court.