Category: victims

High Court overturns decision not to prosecute rape allegation – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 15th, 2020 in appeals, Crown Prosecution Service, judicial review, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘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”).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 14th April 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

How The UK Could Be Failing Migrant Modern Slavery Victims – And What We Can Do About It – Each Other

Posted April 15th, 2020 in forced labour, government departments, immigration, news, statistics, trafficking in human beings, victims by sally

‘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.’

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Each Other, 15th April 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Four men jailed in first year since upskirting law was introduced – The Guardian

Posted April 14th, 2020 in imprisonment, news, photography, sentencing, sexual offences, statistics, victims, voyeurism, women by sally

‘Four men have been jailed in the year since the upskirting law was introduced in England and Wales, figures show.’

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The Guardian, 11th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Non-Disclosure and Barring Service: Victim Access to Information – Panopticon

Posted April 9th, 2020 in child abuse, children, data protection, disclosure, employment, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘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?’

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Panopticon, 8th April 2020

Source: panopticonblog.com

Court of Appeal rules for council in case on eviction for rent arrears against backdrop of domestic violence – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 30th, 2020 in appeals, domestic violence, homelessness, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, repossession, victims by sally

‘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.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Coronavirus: Domestic abuse victims ‘still allowed to leave home’ – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, domestic violence, families, freedom of movement, health, news, victims by sally

‘Domestic abuse victims are allowed to leave home to seek help at refuges despite rules to stop coronavirus spreading, the home secretary has said.’

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BBC News, 29th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MS (Pakistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 24th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, government departments, human rights, immigration, news, Supreme Court, trafficking in human beings, victims by sally

‘The Supreme Court has today [18 March] handed down an important judgment in the area of human trafficking and modern slavery.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 18th March 2020

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Landmark Supreme Court judgment on state obligations under Article 4 ECHR to identify & protect victims of trafficking – Garden Court Chambers

Posted March 24th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, human rights, immigration, news, Supreme Court, trafficking in human beings, victims by sally

‘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.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 18th March 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

The Criminal Justice System: Not fit for Purpose? – 5 SAH

Posted March 17th, 2020 in criminal justice, criminal responsibility, domestic violence, news, victims by sally

‘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.’

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5 SAH, 2nd March 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Ealing rape victim’s family donate £10,000 to legal claim against CPS – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2020 in costs, Crown Prosecution Service, families, judicial review, news, prosecutions, public interest, rape, sexual offences, statistics, victims by sally

‘The family of Jill Saward, the Ealing rape victim who became a leading figure in the fight against sexual violence, has donated thousands of pounds to a legal challenge against the Crown Prosecution Service.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Child sex abuser given ‘preferential treatment’, says damning report – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2020 in child abuse, children, delay, inquiries, news, peerages & dignities, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A top civil servant and a senior member of the royal household have both been criticised in an official report examining attempts by a victim of child sex abuse to have his abuser stripped of an honour.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS failed to tell inspectors of internal review revealing rape case failings – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2020 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, inquiries, news, proportionality, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, statistics, telecommunications, victims by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service conducted a secret internal review that exposed its failings in rape cases – but failed to share it with inspectors who were conducting an official inquiry for a major government investigation into rape, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 15th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

How the net closed on Oxford’s grooming gang – BBC News

Posted March 13th, 2020 in child abuse, children, gangs, news, police, rape, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Nearly a decade after the abuse of vulnerable girls in Oxford began to be addressed, following years of negligence by police and social services, the last of the so-called Operation Bullfinch trials has ended. How did the sex offenders at the centre of the city’s depraved underworld finally come to face justice?’

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BBC News, 13th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic abuser police officers ‘protected’, campaigners claim – BBC News

Posted March 9th, 2020 in domestic violence, news, police, professional conduct, rape, sexual offences, stalking, statistics, victims, women by sally

‘Some police officers accused of domestic abuse are being protected from facing justice, campaigners claim.’

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BBC News, 9th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Victims given right to challenge attackers’ release from prison in new code – The Independent

Posted March 5th, 2020 in codes of practice, news, parole, release on licence, sexual offences, victims, violence by sally

‘Victims of violent and sexual offences are being given the automatic right to challenge their attackers’ release and apply for restrictions to protect themselves.’

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The Independent, 5th March 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Caroline Flack: authorities to review pursuit of assault case – The Guardian

Posted March 4th, 2020 in assault, Crown Prosecution Service, domestic violence, news, suicide, victims by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will review its handling of the assault case against the late Love Island host Caroline Flack.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Civil Justice Council proposes rule changes to ensure consideration of vulnerability of people in civil proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 26th, 2020 in civil justice, codes of practice, compensation, courts, Ministry of Justice, news, sexual offences, victims, witnesses by sally

‘The Civil Justice Council has proposed rule changes that would further ensure that all civil judges, parties and advocates consider vulnerability of people involved in civil proceedings.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Katrina O’Hara murder: Coroner recommends phone access changes – BBC News

Posted February 20th, 2020 in domestic violence, murder, news, telecommunications, victims by sally

‘A coroner has called for domestic abuse victims to have access to mobile phones after police seized a woman’s device days before her murder.’

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BBC News, 19th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family courts not safe for domestic violence victims, lawyers say – The Guardian

Posted February 20th, 2020 in domestic violence, family courts, judiciary, news, rape, victims by sally

‘The family courts are not a safe place for victims of domestic violence because some judges there hold “outdated views” on sexual violence and issues of consent, according to a letter signed by 130 lawyers and professionals.’

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The Guardian, 19th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Seven men convicted of grooming teenage girls in Huddersfield – The Guardian

Posted February 19th, 2020 in child abuse, children, news, rape, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Seven men convicted of sexually exploiting young girls in Huddersfield “robbed their victims of their childhood and abused them in truly appalling ways”, police have said.’

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The Guardian, 18th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com