‘A woman who won an appeal over her conviction for murdering her controlling husband can inherit his estate, a judge has ruled.’
The Guardian, 27th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A woman who was systematically abused as a child by a world-renowned music director has gone from “despair to hope” after seeing him finally jailed.’
BBC News, 22nd May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A major inquiry into historic child sex abuse in Rotherham is set to continue for up to seven years with around 600 victims still to be spoken to.’
BBC News, 20th May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Shortcomings and legal anachronisms: how can we achieve best evidence if current guidance is dangerously out of date on the law on special measures? asks Laura Hoyano.’
Counsel, May 2020
Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk
‘This comment focuses upon two recent Court of Appeal judgments:
R v Privett [2020] EWCA Crim 557 (“Privett”); and R v Manning [2020] EWCA Crim 592 (“Manning”).’
Park Square Barristers, 12th May 2020
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
‘There has been something of an explosion in the number of sexual offences cases coming to the Crown Court where there is no actual victim. Offenders are caught by so-called paedophile hunters or police officers going online and posing as children.’
Broadway House Chambers, 11th May 2020
Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk
‘A watchdog has dropped its misconduct investigation into Greater Manchester police’s handling of a case involving the death of a schoolboy in Cheshire.’
The Guardian, 30th April 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘In a sense, we are all “victims” of the 2020-1 Coronavirus pandemic. Our lives have been changed dramatically by its effects at the domestic, community, regional, national and international levels. None of us born since WWII have experienced the restrictions of movement/activity we are experiencing as “lockdown”. There are serious wellbeing issues associated with being confined to the home for the majority of time, and no doubt those suffering domestic strain, let alone abuse, are truly “suffering”. One thinks also of those self-denying or being denied access to treatment for other health conditions because of the necessary concentration of health resources upon Covid-19 patients. All of this without considering the serious economic effects of deprivation of income for many people who really cannot afford any reduction in their already stretched incomes.’
Doughty Street Chambers, 22nd April 2020
Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk
‘Supermarket workers should be trained to identify and help domestic abuse victims during the pandemic through a code word system, MPs have been told.’
BBC News, 15th April 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘On Saturday 15 February, Caroline Flack’s tragic death became widespread news across the country. Having been charged with common assault of her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, she pleaded not guilty on 23 December last year and was due to face trial on 4 March. On the same day that she took her life, a statement from Ms Flack’s management strongly criticised the Crown Prosecution Servce (CPS) for pursuing the case, citing its knowledge of her vulnerability and the lack of support from the alleged victim.’
New Law Journal, 26th March 2020
Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk
‘Sexual allegations can be distinguished from criminal allegations of other types by virtue of often being prosecuted purely on the basis of one person’s word. There are invariably no witnesses to the interaction between the Complainant and Defendant during which the alleged offence is said to have been committed. There is very rarely any physical or scientific evidence capable of proving or refuting the allegation. No circumstantial evidence. No technological evidence. Sexual allegations are increasingly made weeks, months or even years after the alleged event, by which time delay has frayed memories on all sides which leaves nothing but word against word.’
Park Square Barristers, 7th April 2020
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
‘The Divisional Court has recently handed down a novel decision in R (FNM) v DPP, considering the right of complainants to a fair opportunity to make representations to the Director for Public Prosecutions (“DPP”), and for those representations to be considered, when conducting a review under the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme (“the VRR Scheme”).’
UK Human Rights Blog, 14th April 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘The UK’s modern slavery framework was almost five times less likely to recognise victims from non-European countries than those from Britain last year, . This is despite the fact that many of the top countries for human trafficking are outside Europe. Maya Esslemont examines ways we can ensure victims do not slip through the net and miss out on vital support.’
Each Other, 15th April 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘Four men have been jailed in the year since the upskirting law was introduced in England and Wales, figures show.’
The Guardian, 11th April 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘If you believe that an individual who works with children sexually assaulted you, but was never prosecuted for that allegation, it is understandable that you might wish to know whether that person has been placed on the formal list of persons barred from engaging in regulated activity with children, run by the Disclosure and Barring Service (“DBS”). But it is also understandable why the DBS might not wish to tell you (and thereby the public at large) who is or is not barred, and even more so why the individual accused would not wish that to be revealed. Who’s rights win out?’
Panopticon, 8th April 2020
Source: panopticonblog.com
‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal over whether it was not reasonable for the appellant to stay in a property from which she was evicted for rent arrears given that there was evidence she had been subjected to domestic violence.’
Local Government Lawyer, 26th March 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Domestic abuse victims are allowed to leave home to seek help at refuges despite rules to stop coronavirus spreading, the home secretary has said.’
BBC News, 29th March 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Supreme Court has today [18 March] handed down an important judgment in the area of human trafficking and modern slavery.’
Blackstone Chambers, 18th March 2020
Source: www.blackstonechambers.com
‘The Supreme Court has issued a landmark judgment regarding the scope of positive obligations of the state under Article 4 ECHR, to identify victims of trafficking and afford them protection, including immigration status, for their safety and recovery.’
Garden Court Chambers, 18th March 2020
Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk
‘Superficially, legally enforceable rights and/or minimum standards for ‘victims’ being served by the Criminal Justice System seem laudable. However, it is worth remembering that a major part of the function of the Criminal Justice System is to determine whether there is a ‘victim’ at all and, if so, who it is.’
5 SAH, 2nd March 2020
Source: www.5sah.co.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2020