Law firm data breach “highlights risks to domestic violence victims” – Legal Futures

‘A family law firm that disclosed personal data about a woman and children to her rapist ex-partner has been highlighted in a warning over how data breaches are putting domestic abuse victims’ lives at risk.’

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Legal Futures, 28th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Navigating unadmitted allegations: the cart before the horse – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 28th, 2023 in children, contact orders, domestic violence, evidence, expert witnesses, families, news by tracey

‘Kristine Lidgerwood provides a self-check for a situation which many practitioners will be familiar with and which applies equally to public law and private law proceedings. The unadmitted allegation.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Data breaches putting domestic abuse victims’ lives at risk, says UK watchdog – The Guardian

‘Councils, police forces and hospitals are putting women’s lives at risk by accidentally disclosing domestic abuse victims’ addresses to perpetrators, the UK’s information watchdog has said.’

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The Guardian, 27th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Body-in-suitcase murderer Matthew Waddell handed life sentence Published 15 hours ago – BBC News

‘A man who killed his partner and hid her body in a suitcase inside a wheelie bin has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years.’

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BBC News, 14th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Honour-based abuse: Government rejects calls for legal definition – BBC News

‘The government has rejected calls for a legal definition of honour-based abuse.’

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BBC News, 15th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Killer caught on CCTV as he led estranged wife to her death is jailed for life – The Independent

Posted September 7th, 2023 in closed circuit television, domestic violence, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A killer who stabbed his estranged wife more than 30 times, including 19 wounds to her face and neck, and then kept her body in his room for four days has been jailed for life.’

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The Independent, 6th September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family courts: ‘We kidnapped our kids from abusive dads and fled the UK’ – BBC News

‘A growing number of women who say their children were handed to abusive partners by England and Wales’ family courts have abducted them and fled to Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus. The BBC spoke to six of them to investigate some of their stories.’

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BBC News, 5th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family courts: Mothers dying after ‘abusers’ claim access to children – BBC News

Posted September 4th, 2023 in children, domestic violence, families, family courts, news, suicide, victims by tracey

‘Five mums have died after family courts allowed fathers accused of abuse to apply for contact with their children, a BBC investigation has found.’

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BBC News, 4th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK to pilot electronic tagging for domestic abusers leaving prison – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2023 in domestic violence, electronic monitoring, news, pilot schemes, prisons by sally

‘Domestic abusers leaving prison will have to wear electronic monitoring tags in a move that the government says will offer better protection to victims.’

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The Guardian, 1st September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family Justice Council consults on draft guidance on responding to allegations of alienating behaviour – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 29th, 2023 in children, consultations, domestic violence, families, news by sally

‘The Family Justice Council (FJC) is to consult on draft guidance drawn up by its working group on Responding to alienating behaviour.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Jacob Crouch: stepfather found guilty of murdering baby in Derbyshire – The Guardian

Posted August 3rd, 2023 in child cruelty, domestic violence, murder, news by sally

‘A man has been found guilty of murdering his 10-month-old stepson, Jacob Crouch, who was left with dozens of injuries, including at least 39 rib fractures, in the run-up to his death.’

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The Guardian, 2nd August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review and government response – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 20th, 2023 in domestic violence, homicide, news, reports, sentencing by tracey

‘The Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review undertaken by independent reviewer Clare Wade KC and the government response.’

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Ministry of Justice, 20th July 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

People who murder ex-partners could face longer sentences – The Guardian

Posted July 20th, 2023 in domestic violence, murder, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Partners who murder at the end of a relationship could face longer sentences under a proposed overhaul of punishments for domestic murder.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Better support needed to prevent honour-based abuse remaining hidden crime – MPs – The Independent

‘Honour-based abuse should have a statutory definition in a similar way to domestic abuse, MPs said, as they warned it risks remaining a hidden crime without better victim support.’

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The Independent, 19th July 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ryan Giggs ‘deeply relieved’ after domestic abuse charges dropped- The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2023 in coercive & controlling behaviour, domestic violence, families, news, sport by tracey

‘Ryan Giggs is “deeply relieved” that domestic abuse charges against him have been dropped after his former partner declined to give evidence, his barrister has said.’

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The Guardian, 18th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Family Court and domestic abuse: achieving cultural change – Home Office

Posted July 18th, 2023 in domestic violence, family courts, news by tracey

‘”The Family Court and domestic abuse: achieving cultural change” is the second report on the family justice system from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner which seeks to improve the Family Court and its ability to effectively engage with domestic abuse.’

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Home Office, 17th July 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Legal aid cuts denying vulnerable women access to justice, says thinktank – The Guardian

‘Vulnerable women in England and Wales, including survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, are being denied justice because of cuts to the civil legal aid budget, a thinktank has said.’

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The Guardian, 13th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man who murdered his wife and two young children in Kettering jailed for life – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2023 in domestic violence, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who strangled his wife and their two young children while drunk, and was then shot by police with a stun gun after holding a knife to his own throat, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 40 years.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2023 c. 28 – Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023

2023 c. 25 – Offenders (Day of Release from Detention) Act 2023

2023 c. 24 – Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act 2023

2023 c. 23 – Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Act 2023

2023 c. 22 – Shark Fins Act 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Penelope Jackson loses appeal bid to challenge murder conviction – BBC News

Posted June 29th, 2023 in appeals, domestic violence, murder, news by sally

‘A woman who was jailed for stabbing her husband to death has lost a bid to bring a challenge against her conviction at the Court of Appeal.’

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BBC News, 28th June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk