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.

The move is the latest bid to push killers to attend court, with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) acknowledging that longer jail time alone is unlikely to deter them if they are already behind bars.

"Criminals should not be able to pick and choose when they face justice," Prisons Minister Catherine McKinnell said.

"Refusing to turn up to sentencing is an insult to victims and their families, and offenders must face the consequences", she added.

The new measures mean offenders could be confined to cells for up to three weeks, social visits could be banned for nearly a month and any prison privileges revoked for…