Statement from the President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby: Cross-examination of vulnerable people – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted January 4th, 2017 in cross-examination, family courts, press releases, victims, witnesses by tracey

‘I have been raising since 2014 the pressing need to reform the way in which vulnerable people give evidence in family proceedings. I have made clear my view that the family justice system lags woefully behind the criminal justice system.’

Full statement

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 30th December 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Woman deceived by undercover officer accuses police of delaying lawsuit – The Guardian

‘A woman who is suing police after discovering that she had a sexual relationship with an undercover officer has accused police of using a variety of delaying tactics to obstruct her legal action.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The new domestic violence bill has finally been passed – but there’s a disappointing reason it took so long – The Independent

Posted December 19th, 2016 in bills, crime prevention, domestic violence, news, social services, treaties, victims by sally

‘The current attitude towards victim support reveals much about societal attitudes towards domestic abuse, which does not see dignity as something abuse survivors are entitled to as a fundamental and inalienable human right, but rather as an additional extra for which they must work, opt in to, convince society that they have earned.’

Full story

The Independent, 16th December 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Met Police chief admits officers were ‘confused’ during Operation Midland – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 15th, 2016 in compensation, London, news, police, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘Complainants in sex abuse cases should no longer be automatically believed by police, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has said, as he admitted the policy had led to confusion during the Operation Midland investigation.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th December 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Hackathon app “will help LGBT people report persecution safely” – Legal Futures

Posted December 13th, 2016 in computer programs, harassment, hate crime, homosexuality, internet, law firms, news, victims by sally

Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people around the world will be able to report incidents of persecution to international lawyers stealthily through everyday social media, after a hackathon backed by some of the largest UK law firms devised an app.

Full story

Legal Futures, 13th December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Hundreds of police officers ‘getting away with sexual abuse of crime victims’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 8th, 2016 in complaints, corruption, news, police, reports, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘Hundreds of police officers are alleged to have got away with sexually assaulting victims of crime because forces fail to take action against them, a report has revealed.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Crime Severity Score measures ‘relative harm’ of crimes – BBC News

Posted November 30th, 2016 in crime, news, statistics, victims by tracey

‘A new way of measuring crime in England and Wales has been devised that ranks offences according to their seriousness.’

Full story

BBC News, 30th November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Birmingham pub bombings: Families call for government funding for legal fees – BBC News

Posted November 29th, 2016 in explosives, families, inquests, legal aid, news, victims by sally

‘Relatives of the Birmingham pub bombings victims have said they cannot understand why they are having to fight to get funding for their legal fees.’

Full story

BBC News, 28th November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Child sex abuse victims boycott inquiry meeting in anger over order to sign up to code of conduct – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 23rd, 2016 in child abuse, codes of practice, inquiries, news, victims by tracey

‘Victims have begun a boycott of the Government’s child sex abuse inquiry after being ordered to sign up to a code of conduct if they want to attend meetings.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 22nd November 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Home Office ordered to review policy on torture survivors – The Guardian

‘Hundreds of asylum seekers who are detained in UK immigration centres could be released after a high court judge ordered the government to review its policy on incarcerated torture survivors.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Victims’ group withdraws from historical child sex abuse inquiry – BBC News

Posted November 18th, 2016 in child abuse, inquiries, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The largest victims’ group in the independent inquiry into historical child sex abuse has quit the process, calling it an “unpalatable circus”.’

Full story

BBC News, 18th November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rape law review after footballer Ched Evans’s trial – BBC News

Posted November 17th, 2016 in disclosure, news, rape, victims by sally

‘The law protecting alleged rape victims from disclosing details of their sex lives will be reviewed in the wake of Wales footballer Ched Evans’s case.’

Full story

BBC News, 16th November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cambridge students build a ‘lawbot’ to advise sexual assault victims – The Guardian

Posted November 9th, 2016 in computer programs, legal services, news, sexual offences, universities, victims by sally

‘Imagine RoboCop went to Oxbridge – well, it’s nothing like that at all.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man jailed for harassing Adam Johnson’s victim on Facebook – The Guardian

Posted November 9th, 2016 in anonymity, harassment, news, sentencing, victims by sally

‘The former partner of Adam Johnson’s sister has been jailed for 16 weeks for harassing the ex-England footballer’s child sex victim in a series of Facebook posts. A judge found that Steven Knox, 30, from Sunderland, caused the 15-year-old alarm or distress by posting photos of her online and urging others to share them after Johnson was convicted of sexual activity with her.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

NSPCC rejects plan for ‘mandatory reporting’ of suspected child abuse – The Guardian

Posted November 7th, 2016 in charities, child abuse, news, victims by sally

‘Plans to compel professionals to report their concerns that children are being abused have been rejected by the UK’s leading child protection charity, provoking fury from a victim support group.’

Full story

The Guardian, 5th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Law concerning use of sexual history in rape trials ‘could be reformed’ – The Guardian

Posted October 28th, 2016 in evidence, news, rape, victims by sally

‘The law could be reformed to make clear that an alleged rape victim’s sexual history must not in future be used routinely as evidence in court, the attorney general has suggested.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rape suspects to lose right to know accuser’s identity under new bill – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2016 in anonymity, bills, disclosure, news, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Rape suspects will lose the right to be told the names of their accusers in stranger cases under a move to change the law on sexual assaults. Campaigners claim victims of serious sexual crimes by strangers are frequently put in unnecessary danger by police officers disclosing the name of the accuser to the accused.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Abused woman ‘failed’ as imam Hifiz Rahman flees – BBC News

Posted October 26th, 2016 in fugitive offenders, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A woman who was abused as a child by an imam said she has been “failed by the justice system” after he was able to flee the country before being jailed.’

Full story

BBC News, 25th October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barristers say ‘over-reaction’ to Ched Evans case counterproductive – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2016 in barristers, news, rape, sexual offences, victims, women by sally

‘Leading criminal barristers are concerned that victims of sexual attacks may be “scared off” from coming forward by the “over-reaction” of some women’s rights campaigners following the Ched Evans rape verdict.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

We cannot allow the courts to judge rape by sexual history – The Guardian

Posted October 18th, 2016 in consent, news, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The Ched Evans case threatens women’s right to fair treatment in the courtroom. Battles won may have to be fought again.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk