Violent domestic abusers to be tackled by new programme – BBC News
‘Men who pose a high risk of domestic violence are to be given one-to-one support to change their behaviour. ‘
BBC News, 17 February 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: domestic violence
Bedroom tax challenge success – UK Human Rights Blog
‘The Court of Appeal has given its judgment in a conjoined appeal of two of the latest challenges to the bedroom tax/removal of spare room subsidy (delete as you see fit), holding that it was unlawfully discriminatory in its application to 1.A female victim of serious domestic violence living in a home significantly adapted (including the provision of a “safe room”) to ensure her safety in the face of threats from her former partner; and 2. A severely disabled 15 year old boy cared for by his grandmother and her partner, who required a carer to stay in their home two nights per week.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd February 2016
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Preferring Burnip: Discrimination without justification – Nearly Legal
‘The Court of Appeal tackles the bedroom tax and discrimination again, and, a year on from MA & Ors, there is quite a difference.’
Nearly Legal, 31st January 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Appeal court rules bedroom tax discriminatory in two cases – The Guardian
‘A victim of domestic violence and the grandparents of a severely disabled teenager have won court of appeal challenges over the lawfulness of the bedroom tax.’
The Guardian, 27th January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Whistleblower judge: austerity policies have made courts dangerous – The Guardian
‘A district judge who is suing the Ministry of Justice after whistleblowing her complaints about courtroom dangers – death threats, violent claimants and hostage-taking – has spoken out for the first time about her experience of an under-resourced justice system.’
The Guardian, 23rd January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
These children died at the hands of their fathers when family courts failed to put them first – The Independent
‘Part of the problem is a lack of understanding of the nature and impact of domestic abuse, among judges and social workers. In particular, non-physical abuse is not well understood.’
The Independent, 20th January 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Abuse survivors ‘re-victimised’ through family court process – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Victims of domestic abuse should not endure the trauma of being cross-examined by their abusers in court, a national charity has recommended in a study on child deaths.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 20th January 2016
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Thousands of trials end over no-show witnesses – watchdog – BBC News
‘More than 11,000 criminal trials in England and Wales had to be abandoned last year because witnesses pulled out or did not appear at court, a watchdog has said.’
BBC News, 19th January 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Most sex abuse cases go ‘unsolved’ as police fail to investigate, says judge – Daily Telegraph
‘Most sexual abuse cases are not being investigated, according to a top judge.’
Daily Telegraph, 14th January 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
The new criminal offence for domestic abuse cases: section 76 Serious Crime Act 2015 – Park Square Barristers
‘On Tuesday 29th December 2015, Section 76 Serious Crime Act 2015 came into force, this introduced the new criminal offence of “Controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship“. This offence has been introduced to strength the powers of the police, prosecution and courts in combating domestic abuse and dealing with those cases when an individual is trapped in a controlling and abusive relationship, but may not have been physically assaulted. It is also aimed to deal with the difficulties of obtaining convictions for offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 as evidence in the case of R v Curtis [2010] EWCA Crim 123; [2010] 1 Cr. App. R. 31.’
Park Square Barristers, 6th January 2016
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
Hidden rise in violent crime driven by growth in violence against women – The Guardian
‘Women are bearing the brunt of an invisible rise in violent crime, a new analysis shows. Domestic violence and violence against women have increased since 2009, researchers found, pushing up overall levels of violent crime.’
The Guardian, 13th January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
DPP: Controlling and coercive behaviour can “limit victims’ basic human rights” as new domestic abuse law introduced – Crown Prosecution Service
‘Domestic abusers who subject victims to controlling or coercive behaviour could face up to five years in jail under a new law which comes into force today (29 December 2015). The new legislation will mean the CPS can for the first time prosecute specific offences of domestic abuse if there is evidence of repeated, or continuous, controlling or coercive behaviour.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 29th December 2015
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
‘Going into legal aid work now is career suicide’ – The Guardian
‘Government cuts to legal aid means social welfare lawyers are a dying breed. So where will the next generation come from? Step up the Justice First Fellowship.’
The Guardian, 6th January 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
New CPS powers to tackle domestic abuse – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Controlling a partner’s social media account or surveilling them through mobile phone tracking apps could see domestic abusers jailed for up to five years under new legislation that comes into force today.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 29th December 2015
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Man guilty of killing unborn baby by kicking mum’s stomach – BBC News
‘A man has been found guilty of killing his unborn baby by stamping on the stomach of his pregnant ex-girlfriend.’
BBC News, 17th December 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Domestic Violence and Care Proceedings: Re-victimising the Victim? – Family Law Week
‘Rebekah Wilson, barrister, of Garden Court Chambers examines the plight of victims of domestic violence who find themselves caught up in care proceedings.’
Family Law Week, 11th December 2015
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Police forces let down vulnerable victims, says watchdog – Daily Telegraph
‘Official report says the elderly, disabled and domestic violence victims are not receiving an adequate service from nearly three quarters of forces in England and Wales.’
Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2015
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
MoJ considers specialist courts for issues such as domestic abuse – The Guardian
‘The potential for developing more US-style specialist tribunals – including courts dedicated to tackling the surge in domestic abuse cases – is being examined by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).’
The Guardian, 7th December 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Love you to death: the British women dying at the hands of their partners – The Guardian
‘In 2013, 86 women in Britain were killed by a husband, a boyfriend or a male ex-partner. A new documentary by Vanessa Engle tells the story of every one of them by giving voice to the traumatised families left behind.’
The Guardian, 6th December 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
John McAleer guilty of throwing Danielle Hammond over balcony – BBC News
‘A man who threw his girlfriend off the balcony of a fourth floor flat leaving her with severe injuries has been found guilty of attempted murder.’
BBC News, 20th November 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
