Victims given greater access to justice through legal aid reform – Ministry of Justice

‘Innocent people who have suffered miscarriages of justice, personal harm or injury are among those who will benefit from upcoming changes to legal aid means testing coming into effect this year.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 14th March 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

How sex abusers who target their own children keep parental rights – and the mothers fighting back – The Independent

‘A mother is desperate to change her child’s surname – so that they no longer share it with their criminal father. But Emily* is being blocked from doing so by her ex, despite the fact that he is a convicted child sex offender. Her predicament is not unique. Under English and Welsh law, child sex abusers are able to keep their parental rights in the UK, even if they target their own children. This allows them to retain influence over where the child lives, as well as their healthcare and education.’

Full Story

The Independent, 17th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

When Victims of Modern Slavery Became Offenders: The Unravelling of the UK’s Modern Slavery Agenda – Journal of Human Trafficking

Posted March 14th, 2024 in defences, duress, forced labour, news, trafficking in human beings, victims by sally

‘While victims of trafficking who commit crimes have a defense in law in England and Wales, this has not been without controversy in the courts and is increasingly threatened in practice as British government ministers heap suspicion on those formally seeking recognition as victims of modern slavery. In the first part of this article, we review recent criminal cases decided by the Court of Appeal in England and Wales to explore why it is that some victims of trafficking break the law. These cases reveal the impossible choices that constitute the nexus of circumstances that lead victims to offend. In the second part of this article, we examine the cases of three people convicted of modern slavery and allied immigration crimes that are excluded from the statutory defense in English and Welsh law to show how morally comprehensible the commission of serious crimes can be in the aftermath of exploitation, destitution and trauma. We conclude by urging academics and activists in the modern slavery field to be vocal about how few victims fit their stereotypes and to help articulate the irreconcilably difficult choices that explain why some break the law in immigration contexts that are overtly hostile toward them.’

Full Story

Jounal of Human Trafficking, 27th February 2024

Source: www.tandfonline.com

Plans to release prisoners early ‘endangers domestic abuse victims’ – The Independent

‘Fears have been raised that plans to release prisoners on short sentences up to two months early leave victims of domestic abuse at grave risk.’

Full Story

The Independent, 12th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Post Office scandal victims convictions to be quashed – BBC News

‘A new law will be introduced on Wednesday to clear the names of the hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly convicted in the Post Office scandal.’

Full Story

BBC News, 13th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service lawyers trivialise teen sexual abuse, report says – The Guardian

‘Lawyers in the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales have trivialised teen sexual abuse, are “obsessed” about the credibility of rape victims and used victim-blaming language, according to a critical official examination into how the service deals with serious sexual crimes.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Years of delays to rape trials a ‘significant injustice’, says judge – The Guardian

Posted March 6th, 2024 in criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, news, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘More than 180 alleged rape victims in England and Wales have faced more than two years of delays since their case first went to court, with a senior judge announcing plans to clear the “serious stain” on the justice system by the end of July.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 6th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police force reprimanded after incorrectly merging records of people with same name and date of birth – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 4th, 2024 in data protection, local government, news, ombudsmen, police, victims by tracey

‘The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued a reprimand to West Midlands Police (WMP) after the force “repeatedly” mixed up two people’s personal information.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Infected blood victims step up compensation battle – BBC News

Posted February 29th, 2024 in blood products, budgets, compensation, HIV, news, personal injuries, victims by sally

‘Victims of the contaminated blood scandal have urged the government to set out a compensation scheme, for those affected, in next week’s Budget.’

Full Story

BBC News, 28th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Snapchat rape: Plea to other possible victims after man jailed – BBC News

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in child abuse, children, imprisonment, internet, news, police, sentencing, sexual offences, victims by michael

‘More potential victims have been urged to come forward after a man was jailed for raping a girl he met on Snapchat.’

Full Story

BBC News, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pelvic mesh compensation disappointingly low, says victim – BBC News

Posted February 15th, 2024 in birth, compensation, medical treatment, news, personal injuries, victims, women by sally

‘A woman who described the time in her life after a pelvic mesh implant as “soul destroying” said proposed government compensation was “disappointingly low”.’

Full Story

BBC News, 15th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

British boys more at risk of modern slavery than any other group in UK, says study – The Guardian

‘Almost half of the victims of criminal exploitation in the UK are British boys aged under 18, according to a report calling for new laws to acknowledge them as ­victims of modern slavery.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 11th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

One in nine child victims blamed by Met for their own abuse, watchdog finds – The Independent

‘Vulnerable children – who were often victims of abuse, neglect or sexual exploitation – were described as “making poor choices” in concerning language used by Metropolitan Police officers, according to damning report from the police watchdog, which also concluded that 12 in every 100 children were in some way blamed for their abuse.’

Full Story

The Independent, 9th February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mesh and sodium valproate scandal victims need payouts soon, report says – BBC News

‘Families of children left disabled by an epilepsy drug and women injured by pelvic mesh implants should be given urgent financial help, England’s patient safety commissioner has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 7th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘I feel rejected’: Windrush Scandal victim granted judicial review after Home Office refused compensation – The Independent

‘A member of the Windrush generation who was wrongly denied entry to the UK and sent to Jamaica has been granted a judicial review of his case.’

Full Story

The Independent, 4th February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Online sex blackmailer who forced victim to abuse a seven-year-old jailed for 24 years – The Independent

‘An online sex blackmailer who subjected dozens of victims to “mental torture” – forcing them to film degrading sexual acts including the abuse of a seven-year-old girl – has been jailed for 24 years.’

Full Story

The Independent, 20th January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sexual assault victims charged tens of thousands of pounds for court documents – The Independent

‘Domestic abuse and sexual violence victims are being charged up to tens of thousands of pounds to access court scripts after being wrongly advised not to attend court, The Independent has learned.’

Full Story

The Independent, 21st January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police ‘left children at mercy of grooming gang paedophiles’ in Rochdale – The Independent

‘Girls were “left at the mercy” of paedophile grooming gangs for years in Rochdale because of failings by senior police and council bosses, a report has said.
The damning 173-page review covers 2004 to 2013 and sets out multiple failed investigations by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and apparent local authority indifference to the plight of hundreds of youngsters, mainly white girls from poor backgrounds, all identified as potential victims of abuse in Rochdale by Asian men.’

Full Story

The Independent, 15th January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Domestic abuse victims to be given up to £2,500 to help them flee partners – The Independent

Posted January 10th, 2024 in domestic violence, government departments, news, victims by sally

‘Domestic abuse victims will be given up to £2,500 to help them escape their situation under a new government scheme.’

Full Story

The Independent, 9th January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Troubles legacy act: Ireland takes human rights case against UK – BBC News

‘The Irish government is to begin a legal challenge against the UK government over its decision to offer immunity for Troubles-era crimes.’

Full Story

BBC News, 20th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk