Overview

• The Victims and Courts Bill, which includes Olivia’s Law, has passed its second reading in the House of Commons, marking a significant step toward enactment.
• Olivia’s Law will empower judges to extend sentences by up to two years and impose in-prison sanctions on offenders who refuse to attend their sentencing hearings.
• Cheryl Korbel, mother of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, has campaigned for the legislation since her daughter’s murder in 2022, after her killer, Thomas Cashman, avoided his sentencing hearing in April 2023.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Cheryl Korbel and praised her courage, recommitting to passing the law “as quickly as we can.”
• The proposed legislation aims to ensure victims’ families can deliver impact statements and see offenders held accountable in court, addressing a critical gap in the justice system.