Sexual assault victims charged tens of thousands of pounds for court documents – The Independent

‘Domestic abuse and sexual violence victims are being charged up to tens of thousands of pounds to access court scripts after being wrongly advised not to attend court, The Independent has learned.’

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The Independent, 21st January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police ‘left children at mercy of grooming gang paedophiles’ in Rochdale – The Independent

‘Girls were “left at the mercy” of paedophile grooming gangs for years in Rochdale because of failings by senior police and council bosses, a report has said.
The damning 173-page review covers 2004 to 2013 and sets out multiple failed investigations by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and apparent local authority indifference to the plight of hundreds of youngsters, mainly white girls from poor backgrounds, all identified as potential victims of abuse in Rochdale by Asian men.’

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The Independent, 15th January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Domestic abuse victims to be given up to £2,500 to help them flee partners – The Independent

Posted January 10th, 2024 in domestic violence, government departments, news, victims by sally

‘Domestic abuse victims will be given up to £2,500 to help them escape their situation under a new government scheme.’

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The Independent, 9th January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Troubles legacy act: Ireland takes human rights case against UK – BBC News

‘The Irish government is to begin a legal challenge against the UK government over its decision to offer immunity for Troubles-era crimes.’

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BBC News, 20th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fraudster forced to pay back £1 million to victims – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted December 19th, 2023 in confiscation, Crown Prosecution Service, fraud, news, proceeds of crime, victims by tracey

‘More than 200 people who were conned into buying useless investments have received payouts from the money recovered from the fraudster.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 18th December 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Qualified legal representatives will now get expenses but Law Soc says fees ‘still too low’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has welcomed the announcement that expenses will be added to the qualified legal representative (QLR) scheme in domestic abuse cases, but says fees are still too low.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th December 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Police still victim blaming in grooming gang cases, watchdog finds – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2023 in child abuse, children, inquiries, news, ombudsmen, police, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by michael

‘The inquiry by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) comes more than a decade after scandals in Rotherham and Rochdale came to light, revealing failings by the authorities that left gangs of men free to attack vulnerable young girls.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Most victims of domestic homicide have contacted police or NHS, review shows – The Guardian

‘A review of 302 domestic homicides recorded in a four-year period has found that the majority of those killed had been “hiding in plain sight”, having made contact with the police, health services and other public agencies before their death.’

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The Guardian, 6th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘You were told’: Killed Women report shows deaths could have been prevented – The Guardian

‘Two-thirds of 115 bereaved families surveyed by Ipsos thought the fatal attack on their loved one had been very or fairly preventable.’

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The Guardian, 5th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stalking victims face ‘postcode lottery’, says coroner after Gracie Spinks killing – The Guardian

Posted November 28th, 2023 in coroners, murder, news, police, stalking, victims by tracey

‘Stalking victims face a “postcode lottery” of support due to a lack of advocates in police forces across the UK, a coroner has said following the death of Gracie Spinks.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Modern slavery survivors ‘imprisoned for crimes they were forced to commit’ – The Independent

Posted November 28th, 2023 in duress, forced labour, guilty pleas, imprisonment, news, sentencing, victims by tracey

‘Survivors of modern slavery are being sent to prison for crimes they were forced to commit and not being identified for help, new research suggests.’

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The Independent, 28th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MoJ says it is working on making court records more accessible following MP’s outrage at £7,500 bill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 27th, 2023 in bills, criminal justice, judgments, Ministry of Justice, news, victims by tracey

‘Ministry of Justice officials are working on ways to make transcripts of court proceedings available to victims of crime, a minister has revealed. But, speaking in parliament last week, Mike Freer MP did not respond to calls for immediate legislation to make this possible.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 26th November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ministers to appoint adviser to support disaster victims in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2023 in accidents, bills, emergency services, government departments, news, victims by tracey

‘Ministers are to appoint a permanent independent adviser to provide support for victims of major disasters in England and Wales.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic abuse: Dyfed-Powys Police failed victims, report finds – BBC News

Posted November 20th, 2023 in domestic violence, news, police, victims, Wales by tracey

‘Rapes, assaults and threats to kill – including a woman threatened with a blowtorch – were wrongly classed as “standard risk” by Dyfed-Powys Police, a report has found.’

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BBC News, 19th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victims to be protected through Sentencing Reforms – Ministry of Defence

‘Cowardly domestic abusers will continue to face time behind bars under legislation laid in Parliament today which will also see the most horrific murderers face life behind bars and rapists locked up for longer.’

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Ministry of Defence, 14th November 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Church of England takes next step towards redress for abuse victims – The Independent

‘The Church of England has taken its next step towards putting in place a “robust” scheme to deliver apologies and compensation to abuse victims.’

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The Independent, 15th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Domestic-abuse victims fear deportation if they go to police – BBC News

‘Every police force in England and Wales has reported migrants who are domestic-abuse victims to Immigration Enforcement, new data suggests.’

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BBC News, 9th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wiltshire Police criticised over Clare’s Law failings – BBC News

Posted November 7th, 2023 in disclosure, domestic violence, news, pilot schemes, police, statistics, victims by sally

‘Former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland said he was “horrified and furious” over failings in a system designed to protect possible victims of domestic violence.’

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BBC News, 6th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Merseyside PC who had sex with abuse victim on duty jailed – BBC News

‘A “deplorable” PC who had sex with a victim of abuse while he was meant to be searching for a missing person has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 31st October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barrister fee increase to help vulnerable victims bring attackers to justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 30th, 2023 in barristers, cross-examination, Ministry of Justice, news, victims, video recordings by tracey

‘Fees for barristers who help vulnerable witnesses and victims to pre-record a cross examination will rise to £1,000, the government announced today (25 October 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 25th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk