Paedophile aged 102 sentenced for abusing five-year-old girl in the 1970s – The Independent

Posted September 12th, 2017 in compensation, costs, elderly, news, sentencing, sexual offences, suspended sentences, victims by tracey

‘A 102-year-old man has been sentenced for sexually abusing a young girl from the age of five in the 1970s. A judge suspended Douglas Hammersley’s two-year prison sentence but ordered him to pay his victim £25,000 compensation within 21 days.’

Full Story

The Independent, 11th September 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Victims shouldn’t expect police visits, says Chief Constable – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 11th, 2017 in crime, internet, news, police, victims by tracey

‘Sussex Chief Constable Giles York questioned whether an in-person visit served any purpose and said it would be more “convenient” for members of the public to interact with the force online.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th September 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Abused children ‘refused compensation’ over consent – BBC News

Posted September 11th, 2017 in child abuse, compensation, consent, freedom of information, news, sexual grooming, victims by tracey

‘A woman sexually abused as a child by a grooming gang leader was told by a government body she “consented” to it. Sammy Woodhouse was initially denied compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) which said she was not “manipulated”. A Freedom of Information request revealed she is one of nearly 700 child victims of sexual abuse, including grooming, to be refused payments.’

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BBC News, 11th September 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS to issue guidance on handling cases of abuse against men – The Guardian

Posted September 7th, 2017 in Crown Prosecution Service, domestic violence, gender, news, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘Prosecutors are to be given additional legal advice on handling criminal cases in which men are victims of sexual and domestic abuse. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has published its first public statement recognising the specific needs and experiences of male victims of offences including rape, domestic abuse, harassment, stalking and child sexual abuse.’

Full CPS statement

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The Guardian, 6th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office funds new video enabled justice programme – Home Office

Posted September 5th, 2017 in courts, evidence, news, pilot schemes, police, victims, video recordings by sally

‘A new video link scheme designed to improve the way police officers give evidence and free up more time for front line duties will be piloted thanks to an £11m government cash injection.’

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Home Office, 4th September 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Domestic abuse survivors to ‘regain their voices’ under plans to reform voter anonymity – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 4th, 2017 in anonymity, domestic violence, electoral register, legislation, news, victims by sally

‘Domestic abuse victims are to “regain their voices” with a new law which will make it easier for them to register to vote anonymously, campaigners have said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd September 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

About a Boy – The Hidden Victims of Grooming – BBC Radio 4

Posted August 30th, 2017 in child abuse, news, police, sexual grooming, victims, young persons by sally

‘File on 4 tells one family’s story of fighting the authorities to get support and justice after a 13 year old boy was aggressively groomed by scores of men, aged from their 20s to their 50s. It is a shocking story of opportunities missed, meaning the boy endured assaults by multiple men for years. We look at the impact of that sustained abuse on him and his parents, who were desperately trying to shield him from harm. He says he was dismissed, and even blamed by authorities responsible for protecting him.’

Full Story

BBC Radio 4, 23rd July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge condemns Amber Rudd for ignoring orders to release torture victim – The Guardian

Posted August 24th, 2017 in arson, asylum, delay, detention, news, torture, victims by sally

‘A high court judge has said she is “deeply concerned” about the behaviour of Amber Rudd for failing to release a survivor of torture from detention despite repeated court orders requiring her to do so.’

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The Guardian, 23rd August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police and council agree payouts for victims of child sexual exploitation – Local Government Lawyer

‘Victims of the Rotherham child sexual exploitation abuse scandal have started to receive compensation jointly from South Yorkshire Police and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th August 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Solicitor General: Asian gangs must be handed longer sentences for targeting white girls – Daily Telegraph

‘Judges must give longer sentences to Asian Muslim grooming gangs who abuse white teenage girls when there is evidence of racism, the Government’s senior legal advisor has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th August 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Female victims of violent crime ‘should receive more compensation’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 11th, 2017 in criminal injuries compensation, news, victims, women by tracey

‘Women should get more compensation after being a victim of crime because they are more negatively affected by it, a study has suggested.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 10th August 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Record number of criminals have sentences increased – The Guardian

Posted July 31st, 2017 in attorney general, criminal justice, news, sentencing, statistics, victims by sally

‘A record number of criminals have had their sentences increased after victims and their families complained that they had been treated too leniently.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 30th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Underfunded and overstretched: the lawyers seeking justice for Grenfell – The Guardian

Posted July 25th, 2017 in bereavement, fire, housing, law centres, legal aid, news, pro bono work, victims by sally

‘North Kensington Law Centre was the first in the UK to offer access to justice for the poor and vulnerable. Now fighting for financial survival, the tragedy on its doorstep has meant NKLC’s services are more in demand than ever.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Head of review into historic sexual abuse in English football appeals for abuse survivors to come forward – The Independent

Posted July 24th, 2017 in child abuse, evidence, inquiries, news, sexual offences, sport, victims by sally

‘The head of the review into historic sexual abuse in English football has appealed to abuse survivors to come forward and tell their stories.’

Full Story

The Independent, 23rd July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Contaminated blood inquiry runs into trouble as victims boycott consultation – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2017 in blood products, government departments, HIV, inquiries, news, victims by tracey

‘Officials forced to rethink plans as all key campaign groups refuse to attend meeting due to involvement of Department of Health.’

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The Guardian, 21st july 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sexually abused children as young as 12 refused compensation on grounds they ‘consented’, warn charities – The Independent

‘Sexually abused children as young as 12 are being refused compensation by a Government agency on the grounds that they “consented” to their abuse, charities have warned.’

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The Independent, 18th July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Soft sentence’ correction scheme extended to terror offences – Ministry of Justice

’19 terror-related offences will be added to Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to keep families and communities safe.’

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Ministry of Justice, 15th July 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Stalking victims being failed, say watchdogs – BBC News

Posted July 5th, 2017 in harassment, news, police, reports, stalking, victims by sally

‘Victims of harassment and stalking are being left at risk because of failings by police and prosecutors in England and Wales, say two watchdogs.’

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BBC News, 5th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government says unlawful subletting at Grenfell Tower should not be prosecuted – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 4th, 2017 in fire, illegality, landlord & tenant, news, prosecutions, victims by sally

‘The Government has issued guidance to prosecutors not to bring charges for unlawful subletting at Grenfell Tower so that victims can be identified.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 3rd July 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Stalking victim Helen Pearson rejects police apology over stabbing – BBC News

Posted June 29th, 2017 in assault, news, police, professional conduct, stalking, victims by sally

A woman who was stabbed by her stalker has dismissed a police apology as “meaningless”.

Full Story

BBC News, 29th June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk