Warning over rise in UK domestic abuse cases linked to coronavirus – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2020 in coronavirus, domestic violence, families, news, police, statistics by sally

‘There has been a rise in domestic abuse incidents directly related to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a police leader.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lord Chancellor praises lawyers’ “heroic” efforts – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland yesterday praised lawyers for their “heroic efforts” in trying to keep trials going during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Criminal Justice System: Not fit for Purpose? – 5 SAH

‘Superficially, legally enforceable rights and/or minimum standards for ‘victims’ being served by the Criminal Justice System seem laudable. However, it is worth remembering that a major part of the function of the Criminal Justice System is to determine whether there is a ‘victim’ at all and, if so, who it is.’

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5 SAH, 2nd March 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

MPs oppose ‘bedroom tax’ being applied to domestic abuse survivors – BBC News

Posted March 10th, 2020 in benefits, domestic violence, housing, news, parliament by sally

‘The government must stop applying the so-called “bedroom tax” to domestic abuse survivors fleeing their partners, 44 MPs have written in a letter seen by the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show.’

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BBC News, 10th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic abuser police officers ‘protected’, campaigners claim – BBC News

‘Some police officers accused of domestic abuse are being protected from facing justice, campaigners claim.’

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BBC News, 9th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Caroline Flack: authorities to review pursuit of assault case – The Guardian

Posted March 4th, 2020 in assault, Crown Prosecution Service, domestic violence, news, suicide, victims by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will review its handling of the assault case against the late Love Island host Caroline Flack.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Wymondham murder: Wife jailed for killing husband at family home – BBC News

Posted March 3rd, 2020 in domestic violence, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A woman who murdered her husband during a drunken row has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 2nd March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic abuse: Ministers urged to strengthen revived law to protect children – BBC News

Posted March 3rd, 2020 in bills, children, domestic violence, news by sally

‘Proposed domestic abuse laws must be strengthened to give more protection to children, campaigners say.’

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BBC News, 3rd March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government considers law to curb use of ‘rough sex’ defence – The Guardian

Posted March 3rd, 2020 in bills, defences, domestic violence, homicide, news, sexual offences by sally

‘The government is examining what can be done to stop the use of the “rough sex” defence in courts to escape justice, officials have said, as a long-awaited domestic abuse bill finally returns to parliament.’

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The Guardian, 3rd March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ms Justice Russell and some Feng Shui: the case of JH v MF [2020] EWHC 86 (Fam) – Garden Court Chambers

‘The case of JH v MJ concerned an appeal heard and allowed before Ms Justice Russell from HHJ Tolson, the designated family judge at the Central Family Court in London. For the avoidance of doubt that is the most senior judge at central family court with a number important roles in and oversight of the administration of family justice.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 20th February 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Judiciary to design new online consent course for family judges – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary is to prepare an online resource for family judges dealing with issues of consent and stereotypes in sexual cases.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Domestic abuser jailed after landmark appeal by solicitor general – The Guardian

‘A violent domestic abuser has been imprisoned for three years after the solicitor general successfully challenged his previous sentence in a landmark case at the court of appeal.’

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The Guardian, 25th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Issues of consent in fact-find hearing – Becket Chambers

‘In December 2019 Ms. Justice Russell DBE heard an appeal from a fact-finding hearing that took place in private law Children Act proceedings at the Central Family Court in London in the summer of 2019. Her judgement was given in January 2020 and is reported as JH v. MF [2020] EWHC 86 (Fam).’

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Becket Chambers, 17th February 2020

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Lawyers and women’s rights charities call for family court judge’s cases to be reviewed – Local Government Lawyer

‘Over 130 family lawyers and women’s rights groups have called for Judge Tolson’s continuing cases to be reviewed, following Justice Russell’s condemnation of the family court judge’s treatment of an allegation of sexual assault in a child protection fact-finding trial last month.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Katrina O’Hara murder: Coroner recommends phone access changes – BBC News

Posted February 20th, 2020 in domestic violence, murder, news, telecommunications, victims by sally

‘A coroner has called for domestic abuse victims to have access to mobile phones after police seized a woman’s device days before her murder.’

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BBC News, 19th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family courts not safe for domestic violence victims, lawyers say – The Guardian

Posted February 20th, 2020 in domestic violence, family courts, judiciary, news, rape, victims by sally

‘The family courts are not a safe place for victims of domestic violence because some judges there hold “outdated views” on sexual violence and issues of consent, according to a letter signed by 130 lawyers and professionals.’

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The Guardian, 19th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic Abuse – Are Outdated Misconceptions Still Prevalent in the Legal System? – Becket Chambers

‘This article explores the issue of domestic abuse in the appeal of Re H v F [2020].’

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Becket Chambers, 17th February 2020

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Sexual assault in the family courts – a practical approach – Parklane Plowden

‘Looking at the issue of consent and considering how these cases should be approached following the decision in H v F [2020] EWHC 86 (fam).’

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Parklane Plowden, 18th February 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

‘Outdated family-court rape views need addressing’ – BBC News

Posted February 19th, 2020 in appeals, consent, domestic violence, families, family courts, judges, news, rape, sexual offences by sally

‘A judge who dismissed a woman’s claim she had been raped, as she had done “nothing physically” to stop the alleged perpetrator, is among a number of family court judges to hold “outdated views”, a joint letter says.’

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BBC News, 19th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Caroline Flack: Who decides whether someone should go on trial? – BBC News

Posted February 18th, 2020 in assault, domestic violence, news, prosecutions, public interest by sally

‘TV presenter Caroline Flack was found dead in her home on Saturday, weeks before she was due to stand trial for assaulting her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.’

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BBC News, 17th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk