Part of Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:45 pm on 16 October 2007.
Cindy Barnett: As for proceeding with trials in absence, I agree that the power is there and that it is used. We are guided to consider it, and we do consider it. Certainly we are all extremely keen to move things on and not to have unnecessary delay. That is not fair to anybody. It is the extra step that we are worried about. If we get through the trial, have the report and the necessary information, and custody is an option—and the person is still not there—it is an extra big step to say, “Right, he is not here, but we are sending him to prison.”