Lee Guntrip case: Police knew murdered Sarah Nash was at ‘high risk’ – BBC News
‘A woman killed by a violent ex-partner was failed by officers who knew she was a “high-risk victim”, a watchdog found.’
BBC News, 29th June 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: domestic violence
Sharon Perrett murder: Police ‘stopped calling abuse victim’ – BBC News
‘Police stopped trying to call an abuse victim shortly before she was murdered by her partner because her phone was off, an inquiry has found.’
BBC News, 27th June 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Andrew Hooper: ‘Jealous’ farmer guilty of shooting estranged wife dead in front of teenage daughter – The Independent
‘Judge Mark Wall QC sentenced Hooper to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 31 years at Birmingham Crown Court for the murder.’
The Independent, 21st June 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“No revolution” says the Supreme Court as it rules on defamation – UK Human Rights Blog
‘Lachaux v Independent Print Ltd and another [2019] UKSC 27. The Supreme Court has unanimously held that the Defamation Act 2013 altered the common law presumption of general damage in defamation. It is no longer sufficient for the imposition of liability that a statement is inherently injurious or has a “tendency” to injure a claimant’s reputation. Instead, the language of section 1(1) of the Act requires a statement to produce serious harm to reputation before it can be considered defamatory.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 17th june 2019
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
Compensation rule abolished allowing victims to reapply – Ministry of Justice
‘From today (13 June 2019) more victims of violent crime will be able to apply for compensation as new legislation comes into force abolishing the longstanding “same-roof” rule.’
Ministry of Justice, 13th June 2019
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
‘We were tortured by our own father’ – BBC News
‘Jack and Sean – not their real names – suffered severe abuse from their father for more than 15 years.’
BBC News, 13th June 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Justice system smeared our mother, say Sally Challen’s sons – The Guardian
‘Sally Challen was subjected to a false narrative by a criminal justice system that painted her as “a controlling and jealous lover who planned to kill her husband”, her son has said.’
The Guardian, 8th June 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Police ordered to use bail to protect victims after suspected rapists and murderers freed – The Independent
‘Police officers have been told to use bail conditions to protect the public after new rules saw thousands of suspected sex attackers and violent criminals released without any restrictions. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has released guidance to all officers and staff emphasising that pre-charge bail is a “legitimate tool” in the wake of government changes in 2017.’
The Independent, 27th May 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Spotlight on child protection in family courts – Ministry of Justice
‘A panel of experts will review how the family courts protect children and parents in cases of domestic abuse and other serious offences, Ministers announced today (Tuesday 21 May).’
Ministry of Justice, 21st May 2019
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Court modernisation “undermining access to justice”, lawyers tell MPs – Legal Futures
‘Criminal and civil lawyers have spelt out to MPs on the justice select committee a catalogue of ways in which court modernisation is undermining access to justice.’
Legal Futures, 22nd May 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Guidance on libel for the social media age – Law Society’s Gazette
‘”He tried to strangle me” – hardly innocuous words. But when Nicola Stocker posted them on Facebook in 2012 she could not have known it was the start of a 76-month libel dispute over two simple questions – questions that would reach the Supreme Court as Stocker v Stocker [2019] UKSC 17.’
Law Society's Gazette, 20th May 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
MPs call for inquiry into how family courts treat rape and abuse survivors – The Guardian
‘More than 120 MPs have called for the family courts to be opened up to greater scrutiny and for those who father children through rape to be denied parental rights.’
The Guardian, 15th May 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Voices of children overlooked in family courts, says ex-head – BBC News
‘Family courts in England and Wales are not properly accommodating children’s voices and needs because the government has suggested “it would all cost too much”, their former head has said.’
BBC News, 16th May 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Councils to have statutory duty to deliver support in secure accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse – Local Government Lawyer
‘Councils are to be legally required for the first time to deliver support in secure accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse, the Government has announced.’
Local Government Lawyer, 13th May 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
PM vows to end postcode lottery for domestic abuse victims
‘The prime minister has vowed to end the postcode lottery for those escaping domestic abuse.’
The Guardian, 13th May 2019
Source: www.theguardian.com
Court service starts another video hearing pilot running – Legal Futures
‘A pilot enabling domestic abuse victims to take part in hearings by video link from a computer in their solicitor’s office has begun running in Manchester.’
Legal Futures, 10th May 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Anger as man who abused girlfriend is spared prison by judge who told him there are ‘lots more fish in the sea’ – The Independent
‘A man who has been convicted of coercive control has been spared prison after a judge told him to leave his ex-girlfriend alone because there are “lots more fish in the sea”.’
The Independent, 8th May 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Judge reminds councils of importance of following guidance on working with parents with learning disability – Local Government Lawyer
‘A Family Court judge has said it is “imperative” that local authorities follow guidance on working with parents with a learning disability, and expressed “serious reservations” as to whether a borough council did so in a case concerning the welfare of three children.’
Local Government Lawyer, 8th May 2019
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘I was raped’ by police officer ex-husband – BBC News
‘Police officers and staff accused of domestic abuse are a third less likely to be convicted than the general public, figures from 37 forces suggest.’
BBC News, 1st May 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
