“Same roof” rule excluding compensation for abuse is unlawful – Court of Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog

‘JT v First Tier Tribunal [2018] EWCA Civ 1735. Between 1968 and 1975 the appellant JT was repeatedly assaulted and raped by her stepfather in her family home. Many years later, her assailant was prosecuted for those crimes and convicted on all counts in 2012. As a victim of violent sexual crime, JT applied for compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. Her application was refused on the basis of the “same roof” rule, which stated that an award would not be made in respect of a criminal injury sustained before 1 October 1979.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 31st July 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Man who threw baby out of window in Luton jailed – BBC News

‘A man who threw a seven-month-old baby and its mother out of a window has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 2nd August 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Knife-wielding Louis Morgan jailed for stamping on partner’s head – BBC News

‘A man who stamped on his partner’s head and then tried to kill her neighbour has been jailed for 20 years with five more years on extended licence.’

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BBC News, 1st August

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic abuse victim wins legal challenge against policy denying her right to compensation – The Independent

‘A woman who suffered serious abuse at the hands of her stepfather has won a legal challenge against a policy which denies some victims the right to compensation. The Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday that the so-called “same-roof” rule, which denies compensation to domestic abuse victims who lived in the same home as their attacker before 1979, was “incompatible” with human rights laws.’

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The Independent, 24th July 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rape and domestic violence victims at risk as police fail to record tens of thousands of crimes, watchdog finds – The Independent

Posted July 17th, 2018 in crime, domestic violence, news, police, rape, sexual offences, statistics, victims by tracey

‘Victims are being left at risk by the police’s failure to investigate tens of thousands of crimes, including rape, violence and domestic abuse, a watchdog has warned.HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found that almost one in five crimes reported to Lincolnshire Police were not being formally recorded, meaning they are not investigated and victims cannot access support.’

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The Independent, 17th July 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Are ‘Thousands misusing abuse orders to get legal aid?’ – Transparency Project

‘Twitter commentators asked questions last week of a BBC headline:

Thousands misusing abuse orders to get legal aid, says parenting charity

And the ‘click-bait’ opening sentence of the story itself:

Families Need Fathers says parents are being encouraged by some solicitors to file for non-molestation orders – injunctions used in urgent abuse cases.’

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Transparency Project, 9th July 2018

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Speech by Lord Justice McFarlane: Families Need Fathers Conference 2018 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted June 27th, 2018 in domestic violence, families, family courts, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by Lord Justice McFarlane: Families Need Fathers Conference 2018.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 25th June 2018

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Abusive Birmingham husband ‘beat wife and locked her indoors’ – BBC News

‘A husband who regularly beat his wife and kept her locked indoors during their 16-year marriage has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 19th June 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic abusers still able to cross-examine victims in court – The Guardian

‘Victims of domestic violence continue to be cross-examined by their abusers in family courts more than a year after the government promised to stop such ordeals, a report has found.’

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The Guardian, 30th May 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Beatings, rape and non-stop work: UK women enslaved in forced marriage – The Guardian

Posted May 29th, 2018 in domestic violence, forced marriages, news, rape by sally

‘Betrayed by her own family, isolated from the outside world and raped daily by her violent husband, one desperate teenager turned to a confidential helpline.’

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The Guardian, 28th May 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

JY v RY: An Indictment of the Impact of Legal Aid Cuts – Family Law Week

‘Matthew Richardson, barrister, Coram Chambers explains why a case, described by the judge as “the most unsatisfactory” he has heard and in which ‘had one or both of these parents been represented … probably the outcome would have been very different’, serves as an alarming lesson in just how far our justice system has fallen.’

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Family Law Week, 4th May 2018

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Son of Chinese government official jailed for beating girlfriend despite her pleas for a lenient sentence – Daily Telegraph

‘The son of a Chinese government official has been jailed for beating his girlfriend “from head to toe” after a judge rejected the victim’s appeal for leniency.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th April 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ellie Butler report warns of further deaths unless failures put right – The Guardian

Posted April 25th, 2018 in child abuse, domestic violence, murder, news, reports, social services by sally

‘Deaths like that of six-year-old Ellie Butler, who was murdered by her father, could keep happening unless failures in child protection are quickly corrected, a report obtained by the Guardian has warned.’

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The Guardian, 25th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Woman jailed for controlling partner at their Stewartby home – BBC News

‘A woman who controlled her partner’s life, scalding him with boiling water and stabbing him, has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 16th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ellie Butler inquest: Agencies ‘did not contribute to girl’s death’ – BBC News

Posted April 11th, 2018 in child abuse, domestic violence, inquests, murder, news, social services by sally

‘Failings by agencies over the care of a six-year-old girl who was murdered by her father did not contribute to her death, a coroner has ruled.’

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BBC News, 10th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police inspector Darren McKie jailed for wife’s murder – BBC News

Posted March 28th, 2018 in domestic violence, murder, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A former police inspector who murdered his wife in their home and dumped her body in a lake has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 27th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tara Newbold death: Duane Ballin jailed for GBH but not murder – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2018 in domestic violence, grievous bodily harm, murder, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A man who told police “I think I’ve killed my girlfriend” after beating her hours before she died has been jailed for the attack but not murder.’

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BBC news, 26th March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family of Tara Newbold call for inquest into her death to resume – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2018 in domestic violence, grievous bodily harm, inquests, news by tracey

‘The family of a woman who was severely beaten by her partner on the night she died are calling for the resumption of an inquest into her death, after the perpetrator was not charged with murder.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Speech by Sir James Munby: Changing families – family law yesterday, today and tomorrow – a view from south of the Border – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by Sir James Munby: Changing families – family law yesterday, today and tomorrow – a view from south of the Border.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 21st March 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Lawyers, Legal Language and Fact-finding Hearings under Part IV of the Children Act 1989 – Family Law Week

Posted March 23rd, 2018 in care orders, domestic violence, evidence, families, family courts, news by tracey

‘David Bedingfield, barrister of 4 Paper Buildings, discusses what lessons can be learned from the Court of Appeal’s judgment in R (Children) [2018] EWCA Civ 198.’

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Family Law Week, 16th March 2018

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk