Gambling regulator warns firms over use of gagging orders – The Guardian

‘The UK’s Gambling Commission has warned the industry over the use of gagging orders, after incidents of consumers being paid substantial sums of money in return for agreeing not to talk to the regulator.’

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The Guardian, 31st January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police and NHS not liable to victim’s children in negligence or breach of human rights – UK Police Law Blog

‘In Griffiths v (1) Chief Constable of Suffolk (2) Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust [2018] EWHC 2538 (QB), the High Court dismissed claims that the Chief Constable and the NHS Trust were negligent in breaching their duties of care or had breached human rights.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 24th January 2019

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

UK government pays £1m to Cyprus ‘torture victims’ – BBC News

Posted January 24th, 2019 in armed forces, class actions, Cyprus, damages, news, rape, sexual offences, torture, victims by tracey

‘Thirty-three Cypriots who claimed they were tortured by British forces during an armed uprising in the late 1950s are to be awarded £1m damages, to be shared between them, by the UK government.’

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BBC News, 24th January 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Compensation body ‘re-traumatising’ crime victims – BBC News

Posted January 23rd, 2019 in criminal injuries compensation, news, sexual offences, victims, violence by sally

‘Survivors of violent and sexual crime are being “re-traumatised” by the government’s compensation body, the victims’ commissioner has said.’

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BBC News, 23rd January 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Home Office announces repayment for slavery victims after it unlawfully cut their support – The Independent

Posted January 18th, 2019 in benefits, compensation, forced labour, news, trafficking in human beings, victims by tracey

‘The Home Office has announced a repayment scheme for modern slavery victims after its decision to slash their financial support was ruled unlawful by the High Court.’

Home Office press release

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The Independent, 17th January 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Opinion: Why do we separate the mother and child victims of domestic abuse? – Family Law

Posted January 14th, 2019 in children, domestic violence, families, news, social services, statistics, victims by tracey

‘Domestic abuse hurts children, whether they are the direct target, or find themselves witness to warfare in their home. The latest government figures show that half of all children assessed as needing social services support are in that plight through domestic abuse – and when social workers feel a child is no longer safe at home, they can be removed into the care system. This means being taken away from their mothers – typically the victim in all this. But she’s not usually the one being violent. Most often, it’s the children’s father or stepfather who is. As rates of reported domestic abuse soar – incidents sufficiently serious to be recorded by police as crimes rose 5% between 2016 and 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics – it’s estimated by the charity Safe Lives that 130,000 children live in households with “high‑risk” domestic abuse. So why are victims investigated by social services, rather than the perpetrators who cause such physical and mental harm?’

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Family Law, 14th January 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Grayling under fire as serious crimes committed on parole soar by 50% – The Guardian

‘The number of rapes, murders and other serious crimes committed by offenders on parole has risen by more than 50% since reforms to probation were introduced four years ago, according to official data that has triggered calls for the government to rethink its plans for another shake-up of the service.’

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The Guardian, 12th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Repatriation fees for forced marriage victims abolished – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2019 in fees, forced marriages, loans, news, victims by sally

‘The Foreign Office has bowed to public outrage and dropped its requirement for victims of forced marriage to pay sometimes crippling fees to cover the cost of their repatriation.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trafficking convictions fall 25% despite rising number of victims in Europe – The Guardian

‘The number of convictions for trafficking in Europe has fallen by a quarter, despite an increase in the number of victims and a global drive to tackle the abuse.’

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The Guardian, 8th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sexual assault forensics centres failing some victims – BBC News

‘Young victims of sexual assault are not being forensically examined within a critical time period at some privately-run referral centres, a BBC investigation has found.’

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BBC News, 8th January 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bungling police lost important documents in Guildford IRA bomb case, coroner hears – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 21st, 2018 in bereavement, coroners, documents, inquests, Ireland, miscarriage of justice, news, police, victims by tracey

‘Bungling police lost important documents in Guildford IRA bomb case, coroner hears.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th December 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police trawls of rape victims’ private data to be investigated – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2018 in data protection, news, police, privacy, rape, victims by tracey

‘UK watchdog inquiry into possible routine breaching of privacy and data regulations.’

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The Guardian, 20th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sir Philip Green: Injunctions, Non-Disclosure Agreements and Parliamentary Privilege – Rights Info

‘In October, Sir Philip Green was revealed in Parliament as the businessman at the heart of ‘Britain’s #MeToo scandal’. The revelation sparked an intense debate about injunctions, non-disclosure agreements, parliamentary privilege and the relationship between Parliament and the courts. But what does all mean? In this explainer we get to the bottom of it.’

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Rights Info, 17th December 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

What happened next? The lawyer who took on John Worboys – and showed how the justice system fails women – The Guardian

Posted December 17th, 2018 in criminal justice, news, parole, rape, recidivists, sexual offences, statistics, victims, women by sally

‘The parole board’s decision to release the black cab rapist was met with shock and outrage. Harriet Wistrich fought the decision, and won, but says there will be many more similar cases in future.’

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The Guardian, 17th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

FCA under fire over Lloyds compensation scheme – BBC News

Posted December 17th, 2018 in banking, compensation, financial regulation, fraud, news, victims by sally

‘The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been criticised for allowing Lloyds Banking Group to set up a “flawed” compensation scheme for victims of a massive fraud.’

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BBC News, 17th December 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sexual assault victims waiting a year for counselling, MPs say – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2018 in budgets, news, sexual offences, social services, victims by sally

‘Sexual assault victims are waiting up to 14 months for counselling as specialist support services struggle to cope with unprecedented demand, MPs have said.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

On the spot: accidents at work – New Law Journal

‘A new guideline recently published by the Sentencing Council is likely to result in increased penalties for individuals responsible for fatal workplace accidents. Chris Newton reports.’

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New Law Journal, 7th December 2018

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Gambler’s victims to sue bookmakers where he spent stolen cash – The Guardian

Posted December 11th, 2018 in compensation, gambling, money laundering, news, theft, victims by sally

‘Two of the UK’s largest bookmakers are facing compensation claims worth £1.5m over allegations that they allowed a gambling addict to bet hundreds of thousands of pounds in stolen cash.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Tower inquiry: LFB ‘failed residents and firefighters’ – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2018 in fire, fire services, inquiries, news, victims by sally

‘Grenfell Tower residents and firefighters were let down by London Fire Brigade’s leaders, a lawyer for the victims has said.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police to stop passing on immigration status of crime victims – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2018 in codes of practice, data protection, deportation, immigration, news, police, victims by tracey

‘Police will cease to automatically pass information about people suspected of being in the country illegally to deportation authorities if they come forward as victims of crime, according to a new policy hammered out in the wake of the Windrush scandal, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 6th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com