Rape case specialist units falling short, review says – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2016 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, rape, reports, victims by sally

‘The care provided to rape and sexual assault victims by dedicated Crown Prosecution Service units in England and Wales is falling “well short” of what is expected, inspectors have said.’

Full story

BBC News, 2nd February 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

An open or shut case? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘R(C) v. Secretary of State for Justice [2016] UKSC 2. When is it right to keep the names of parties to litigation a secret? That was the difficult question the Supreme Court had to grapple with in this judgment, handed down on Wednesday. The decision to allow a double-murderer to remain anonymous led to outraged headlines in the tabloids. Yet the Court reached the unanimous conclusion that this was the right approach. Why?.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 29th January 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The DWP is forcing a rape victim to pay the Bedroom Tax on her police-installed panic room – The Independent

Posted January 28th, 2016 in appeals, benefits, housing, news, social security, victims by sally

‘The Department for Work and Pensions is trying to force a rape victim to pay the so-called “Bedroom Tax” on her police-installed panic room, it has emerged.’

Full story

The Independent, 27th January 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Victims are ill-served by the justice system: this bill will change that – The Guardian

‘The case of Poppi Worthington is the latest in a lamentable catalogue of misses by police or prosecutors. It demonstrates why the law needs to change.’

Full story

The Guardian, 25th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Vulnerable victims of violence ‘at risk’ over funding uncertainty – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2016 in bills, budgets, news, refugees, victims, violence, women by sally

‘The most vulnerable victims of violent crimes, including abused women and refugees, are being put at a greater risk over uncertainty in funding to frontline services, officials have warned in a letter to the government. Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) from across England have called on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide urgent clarification of the grants available to victims’ services.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BBC’s Jimmy Savile abuse report to be published in next six weeks – The Guardian

Posted January 21st, 2016 in BBC, child abuse, inquiries, news, police, reports, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The report into sexual abuse at the BBC is to be published within the next six weeks, after police finally ruled that it will not prejudice any ongoing investigations.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Abuse survivors ‘re-victimised’ through family court process – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Victims of domestic abuse should not endure the trauma of being cross-examined by their abusers in court, a national charity has recommended in a study on child deaths.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 20th January 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Woman claims ‘psychological torture’ over ‘relationship with undercover officer’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2016 in news, police, psychiatric damage, victims, women by sally

‘In 2015 Scotland Yard made an apology to seven women who were deceived into ‘abusive, deceitful and manipulative’ relationships with undercover police officers’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th January 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘I was violently attacked but my case was dropped because I had been drinking’ – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2016 in alcohol abuse, assault, news, victims, violence, witnesses, women by sally

‘After I was mugged, a suspect was arrested but the case was dropped because of ‘grave concerns’ about the credibility of my evidence. Can a new law protect thousands of women like me?’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th January 2016

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS lacks empathy with crime victims and witnesses, report finds – The Guardian

Posted January 13th, 2016 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, reports, victims, witnesses by sally

‘Letters the Crown Prosecution Service sends to victims of crime often lack empathy and contain template paragraphs that sometimes fail to convey basic information, according to an official inspectorate report.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th January 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sex attacker jailed after being caught by his victim on Facebook – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 12th, 2016 in attempts, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘James Huggett, 22, is handed seven years behind bars after his victim Chanel Purchase, 21, scoured Facebook for pictures of him.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th January 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Thalidomide 50 years on: ‘Justice has never been done and it burns away’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 7th, 2016 in compensation, health, media, medicines, news, reporting restrictions, victims by sally

‘It has been more than half a century since the thalidomide scandal, but Martin Fletcher finds that the victims’ fight for compensation is far from over.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th January 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Going into legal aid work now is career suicide’ – The Guardian

‘Government cuts to legal aid means social welfare lawyers are a dying breed. So where will the next generation come from? Step up the Justice First Fellowship.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The code of practice for victims of crime and supporting public information materials – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 18th, 2015 in codes of practice, press releases, victims by tracey

‘Code of practice governing services to be provided in England and Wales to victims of criminal conduct which occurred in England and Wales.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 18th December 2015

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

Domestic Violence and Care Proceedings: Re-victimising the Victim? – Family Law Week

Posted December 15th, 2015 in care orders, children, domestic violence, news, victims by sally

‘Rebekah Wilson, barrister, of Garden Court Chambers examines the plight of victims of domestic violence who find themselves caught up in care proceedings.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 11th December 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Police forces let down vulnerable victims, says watchdog – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 15th, 2015 in disabled persons, domestic violence, elderly, news, police, reports, victims by sally

‘Official report says the elderly, disabled and domestic violence victims are not receiving an adequate service from nearly three quarters of forces in England and Wales.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Grooming’ paedophiles let off with police caution, says official report – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 10th, 2015 in cautions, news, reports, sexual grooming, victims by sally

‘Joint report by criminal justice watchdogs voices concern over “inappropriate use of police cautions”.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

New anti-slavery helpline launched with £1m from Google – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 10th, 2015 in crime, news, trafficking in human beings, victims by sally

‘Home Office to launch new hotline based on US model, announces Home Secretary Theresa May.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police failing to protect victims of ‘honour-based’ violence, finds study – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2015 in female genital mutilation, forced marriages, murder, news, police, reports, victims by sally

‘Police are not doing enough to protect victims of “honour-based” violence (HBV), forced marriage and female genital mutilation, according to a report by the police watchdog.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stalkers to be banned from contacting victims online under plans to protect people targeted on the internet – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 7th, 2015 in consultations, harassment, internet, news, stalking, statistics, victims by sally

‘The Home Office is drawing up proposals to hit stalkers with protection orders to prevent them from contacting strangers on the internet and in person.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk