Abuse victims ‘saddened’ as Ben Emmerson QC quits inquiry – BBC News

Posted October 3rd, 2016 in barristers, inquiries, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Victims say they are “saddened, but not surprised” by the resignation of the most senior lawyer working for the independent inquiry into historical child sexual abuse.’

Full story

BBC News, 30th September 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Top police officer told to step down because he showed ‘unacceptable insensitivity’ to Hillsborough victims – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 30th, 2016 in bereavement, dismissal, inquests, news, police, sport, victims by tracey

‘South Yorkshire’s most senior police officer was told to step down because he showed unacceptable insensitivity to Hillsborough disaster victims, his police and crime commissioner has said. PCC Alan Billings suspended Chief Constable David Crompton and on Thursday asked him to resign after he delivered a controversial statement following the Hillsborough inquest alluding to “other contributory factors” to blame for the deaths.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th September 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sir Cliff Richard will not be charged after accusers’ appeal is rejected – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2016 in appeals, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Sir Cliff Richard will not be charged over allegations of historical sexual abuse after a challenge by two of his accusers over the decision not to prosecute was rejected.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Courts reform gives stronger protection for victims and witnesses – Ministry of Justice

‘Vulnerable victims and witnesses will no longer have to appear in court under new plans to roll out pre-trial evidence sessions.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 15th September 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

‘Child houses’ to be set up for young sex abuse victims – BBC News

Posted September 12th, 2016 in care homes, child abuse, children, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Two so-called “child houses” are to be set up to support victims of sexual abuse and help them through the court process, the home secretary has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 10th September 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Some victims may boycott the troubled sex abuse inquiry. What has gone wrong? – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2016 in child abuse, inquiries, news, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘Even the fiercest critic of Dame Lowell Goddard must admit she’s got a point. Earlier this week, Goddard revealed why she resigned last month as chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse. She sent a 10-page critique of the setup of the inquiry to the home affairs select committee, saying it was too big, took in too many institutions (church, councils, schools, Westminster, Medomsley detention centre – to name but a few of its 13 strands), was too complex, went back too far (60 years), would take too long (possibly 10 years), and was underfunded.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘I needed my voice to be heard’: readers on restorative justice – The Guardian

Posted September 7th, 2016 in news, restorative justice, victims by sally

‘From victims to facilitators, here’s what some of our readers said about their experiences.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Have you taken part in restorative justice? – The Guardian

Posted September 2nd, 2016 in news, restorative justice, select committees, victims by sally

‘A parliamentary committee has said victims of crime in England and Wales should be given the right to restorative justice, once the criminal justice system develops sufficient capacity.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Victims should be able to confront criminals, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2016 in criminal justice, news, restorative justice, select committees, victims by sally

‘Victims of crime in England and Wales should be given the right to restorative justice – where they can confront the criminal who harmed them – once the criminal justice system develops sufficient capacity, a parliamentary committee is to recommend.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Decision not to prosecute Sir Cliff Richard in abuse investigation under review – The Guardian

‘The decision not to press charges in the abuse investigation against Sir Cliff Richard is being reviewed.’

Full story

The Guardian, 31st August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme ensuring justice for victims of crime and their families – Attorney General’s Office

Posted August 25th, 2016 in appeals, news, sentencing, statistics, victims by sally

‘More than 100 offenders had their prison sentences lengthened following referrals by the Attorney and Solicitor General to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme during 2015.’

Full story

Attorney General’s Office, 24th August 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Successful compensation appeal by rape victim – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The Upper Tribunal has ruled that, in deciding whether or not an applicant has cooperated with the prosecution of her assailant where she made and later retracted an allegation of rape, it was necessary to see why that retraction was made and whether it was done truly voluntarily, rather than simply assessing whether she was responsible for the retraction.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd August 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Slavery reports rise fivefold, Salvation Army says – BBC News

‘The Salvation Army says it has seen nearly a fivefold rise in the number of slavery victims it has helped in England and Wales since 2012.’

Full story

BBC News, 22nd August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Dangerous Dogs Act 25 years on: How effective has it been? – BBC News

Posted August 15th, 2016 in dogs, news, statistics, victims by sally

‘Twenty-five years ago, Britain became one of the first countries in the world to ban certain breeds of dog. BBC News examines whether the Dangerous Dogs Act has been effective.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Nigel Wilkinson jailed: Photographer who drugged and raped two men receives 11 year sentence – The Independent

Posted August 15th, 2016 in DNA, drug offences, evidence, guilty pleas, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Nigel Wilkinson, the photographer who drugged and raped two men at his Bristol home, has been jailed for 11 and a half years.’

Full story

The Independent, 12th August 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Peter Sutcliffe could be tried for attacks on up to 13 other victims – Daily Telegraph

‘Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe could face a new trial for a series of previously unsolved attacks on women.’
Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th August 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Domestic abuse privacy breach: Greater Manchester Police pays victim – BBC News

Posted August 11th, 2016 in compensation, domestic violence, news, police, privacy, victims by tracey

‘A domestic abuse victim has received £75,000 from a police force after it revealed details of her treatment by a former boyfriend without her consent.’

Full story

BBC News, 11th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High court rules in favour of rape victim who retracted accusation under duress – The Guardian

‘A domestic violence victim who was jailed for retracting an allegation of rape, which was actually true, will have her compensation increased after an appeal judge ruled she had been unfairly punished for failing to fully cooperate with police.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Modern Slavery Act 2015 review: one year on – Home Office

‘An independent review into the effectiveness of the criminal justice provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015 one year after coming into effect.’

Full press release

Home Office, 31st July 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Cybercriminal “Sir King Cash” ordered to pay back over half a million pounds – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Fraudster Sean Benson, who went by the screen name “Sir King Cash”, has been ordered to pay back £554,000 by a judge at Southwark Crown Court. Benson now has three months in which to pay back the money or face a further five years in jail. All of the money will be paid back to the victims of the fraud.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 29th July 2016

Source: www.cps.gov.uk