Fall in domestic abuse files sent to prosecutors despite rise in recorded crimes – The Guardian

Posted November 26th, 2019 in domestic violence, news, prosecutions, statistics by tracey

‘Domestic-abuse related cases referred to prosecutors for consideration for charge have fallen 11% in a year despite a surge in the number of crimes recorded by police.’

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The Guardian, 25th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coercive control incidents double in a year, as campaigners warn domestic abuse “remains at epidemic levels” – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 26th, 2019 in coercive & controlling behaviour, domestic violence, news, statistics by tracey

‘Coercive control reports to police have doubled within a year, new figures reveal, as campaigners warn that the true extent of the crime is only just starting to be recognised.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th November 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The President’s New Clothes – Transparency Project

Posted November 25th, 2019 in domestic violence, families, family courts, judges, media, news by sally

‘This week has seen reports in the legal press of a speech in which the President of the Family Division set out an idea for a research project about news reports containing accounts of how family courts have handled domestic abuse claims. See for example : Press attacks on family courts should be assessed – McFarlane by Monidipa Fouzder in The Gazette.’

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Transparency Project, 23rd November 2019

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

What is coercive control and why is it so difficult to recognize? – OUP Blog

‘Engaging in controlling and/or coercive behaviour in intimate or familial relationships became a new criminal offence in England and Wales in December 2015. Coercive Control involves a pattern of abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten the victim. Example behaviours included in this legislation are isolation from friends and family, deprivation of basic needs, monitoring behaviour and time, controlling a victim’s life and/or finances, and may include physical violence. The introduction of this offence was welcomed for recognising the cumulative impact of various forms of domestic abuse and for encouraging police and other criminal justice agencies to move beyond an incident-led and physical violence-based understanding of domestic abuse. However, four years on since the legislation was enacted and with no compulsory national level training or support, what has actually changed?’

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OUP Blog, 25th November 2019

Source: blog.oup.com

Princess Haya of Jordan and her husband Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed Al Maktoum are before the High Court this week seeking rulings in relation to their children: Hilary Lennox explains the applications – 5SAH

‘Princess Haya bint al-Hussein of Jordan attended court in July 2019 and made three applications before the High Court of England and Wales. A Forced Marriage Protection Order, Wardship orders in respect of their two children and a non-molestation order to protect her against domestic violence.’

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5SAH, 12th November 2019

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Chip shop death: Geoffrey Bran cleared of murdering wife with oil – BBC News

Posted November 19th, 2019 in domestic violence, murder, news by sally

‘A chip shop owner accused of killing his wife by throwing boiling oil over her has been cleared of her murder.’

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BBC News, 19th November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman nearly killed by ex-partner hits out at ‘ridiculous’ change to ‘lenient’ prison sentences for abusers – The Independent

Posted November 19th, 2019 in appeals, domestic violence, grievous bodily harm, news, sentencing, victims by sally

‘A woman who almost died when her former partner attacked her with a meat cleaver has condemned the government’s new scheme which allows victims of domestic abuse to challenge sentences given to their perpetrators.’

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The Independent, 19th November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Millionaire who claimed his girlfriend died accidentally after ‘rough sex’ loses appeal against prison sentence – The Independent

‘A millionaire property tycoon who left his injured and bleeding partner to die after claiming she had been injured during “rough sex” has lost an appeal to have his prison sentence cut.’

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The Independent, 14th November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

“Bedroom tax” unlawful -Strasbourg Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 12th, 2019 in benefits, domestic violence, housing, human rights, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Much may have changed in the political world since the Coalition Government introduced its controversial ‘bedroom tax’, but the legal fall-out from the policy continues. The European Court of Human Rights has delivered its verdict on the compatibility of the scheme with the prohibition on discrimination set out in Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Strasbourg Court has found that the policy discriminated unlawfully against women at risk of domestic violence.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 12th November 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Sarah Wellgreen death: Taxi driver Ben Lacomba jailed for life for murdering mother of five – The Independent

Posted November 11th, 2019 in domestic violence, married persons, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who murdered his ex-partner in a “wicked” pre-planned operation has been sentenced to life in prison.’

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The Independent, 9th November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mother to sue justice ministry after probation errors led to son’s murder – The Guardian

‘The Ministry of Justice is to be sued by the mother of a five-year-old boy who was murdered by her boyfriend after an inquest concluded that defects in the probation system contributed to his death.’

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The Guardian, 9th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Teenager jailed for murder of Ellie Gould – The Guardian

Posted November 11th, 2019 in bereavement, domestic violence, families, murder, news, sentencing, victims, young offenders by sally

‘The family of a 17-year-old girl brutally murdered by a fellow sixth-former the day after she ended their relationship have said the killer should never be released from prison.’

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The Guardian, 8th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bail changes to be reviewed after suspected rapists, murders and paedophiles released without restrictions – The Independent

‘Bail changes made by the Conservative government are being reviewed after the release of thousands of suspected violent criminals, paedophiles and rapists.’

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The Independent, 6th November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Kevin Eves guilty of murdering eight-week-old daughter – BBC News

Posted November 6th, 2019 in children, domestic violence, murder, news by sally

‘A dad with a history of violence has been found guilty of murdering his eight-week-old daughter.’

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BBC News, 5th November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Carlisle man who poured boiling water on partner jailed – BBC News

‘A man who beat his partner with a mallet and poured boiling water over her head has been jailed for 15 years.’

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BBC News, 4th November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic Abuse Bill Falls Ahead Of General Election – Rights Info

‘A landmark bill seeking to “transform” the UK’s response to the “terrible crime” of domestic abuse has fallen as Parliament prepares to dissolve ahead of the snap general election on 12 December.’

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Rights Info, 1st November 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Andrew Griggs: The wife killer who escaped justice for 20 years – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2019 in domestic violence, missing persons, murder, news, pregnancy, sentencing by sally

‘For 20 years, the disappearance of Debbie Griggs remained a mystery. Two decades later, her husband has been convicted of her murder and jailed for a minimum of 20 years. What changed?’

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BBC News, 30th October 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judicial review challenge on health inequalities caused by NHS Charging Scheme for migrant women and their children – Garden Court Chambers

‘Judicial review proceedings have been launched on behalf of Maternity Action, a leading maternity rights charity, challenging the Secretary of State for Health’s NHS Charging Regime. The disproportionate effect of charging is most stark amongst destitute pregnant women, new mothers, survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and Female Genital Mutilation and destitute migrant families supported by local authorities, who are overwhelmingly women.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 15th October 2019

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

European Court of Human Rights rules against the UK in ‘bedroom tax’ case – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted October 29th, 2019 in benefits, domestic violence, housing, human rights, news, sex discrimination by sally

‘Today [24 October] the European Court of Human Rights has ruled, in the case of A v the United Kingdom, that the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ unlawfully discriminates against vulnerable victims of domestic violence.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 24th October 2019

Source: www.doughtystreet.co.uk

Bedroom tax, sanctuary schemes and human rights redux – Nearly Legal

Posted October 29th, 2019 in benefits, disability discrimination, domestic violence, housing, human rights, news by tracey

‘Case of J. D. and A. v United Kingdom 32949/17 34614/17. The Supreme Court (Lady Hale and Lord Carnwath dissenting) found justified discrimination in imposing the bedroom tax on a woman who, as a result of domestic violence, had had her home treated under the Sanctuary Scheme to include the modification of the attic to render it a “panic room”. (Our report here). The Supreme Court found that this was for a case by case evaluation, not something that required a blanket exemption for a class of people, and there were Discretionary Housing Payments possible. The European Court of Human Rights, in a 5/2 split decision, has now found that it was not justified discrimination.’

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Nearly Legal, 27th October 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk