Revealed: How the CPS betrays victims of crime – numbers of witness protection staff falls by 57% in just three years – The Independent

Posted February 25th, 2014 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, reports, victims, witnesses by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has cut the number of staff it employs to look after witnesses – some of whom are victims of crime – by more than half in just three years, an investigation has revealed.’

Full story

The Independent, 24th February 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sex claim victims are not money grabbers, says DPP – Daily Telegraph

‘Alison Saunders, the Director of Public Prosecutions, has strongly defended   the prosecutions that have followed the Jimmy Savile scandal and said she intends to keep pursuing such cases.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th February 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Three London youths charged with murder before alleged victim died – The Guardian

Posted February 19th, 2014 in murder, news, prosecutions, victims, young offenders by sally

‘Prosecutors decided to charge three youths with murder before their alleged victim died, police have said.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th February 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Over 140 children identified as sex slaves in 2013 – The Independent

Posted February 18th, 2014 in children, news, statistics, trafficking in human beings, victims by sally

‘More than 140 children were identified as being trafficked for sexual abuse last year as the numbers of people rescued from being held as slaves soared by nearly half.’

Full story

The Independent, 18th February 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK launches £500,000 fund to help male victims of rape and sexual abuse – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2014 in news, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A £500,000 fund to provide help, including counselling and advice, to male victims of rape and sexual violence is to be launched on Thursday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th February 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

70% of shelved child abuse inquiries could be reopened following complaints by victims – The Independent

Posted February 6th, 2014 in child abuse, complaints, criminal justice, news, prosecutions, sexual grooming, victims by sally

‘Dozens of historic child abuse inquiries could be restarted following complaints by victims of being let down by the criminal justice system.’

Full story

The Independent, 5th February 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Call for review of rape complainants’ treatment after woman’s death – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2014 in complaints, news, police, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A police and crime commissioner has called for a review of how sex offence complainants are treated by the courts after the death of a woman days after a jury acquitted a man accused of raping her.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Keir Starmer’s call for a “Victims’ Law” – all heart and no substance – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted February 4th, 2014 in codes of practice, legislation, news, victims by sally

‘“From a victim’s point of view, our justice system is hardly fit for purpose.. “What is needed is a fundamental rethink, leading to a specific and legally enforceable Victims’ Law, alongside a real and radical shift in attitude and approach.”

So wrote former DPP Sir Kier Starmer QC in an article for the Guardian yesterday in which he proposed a “Victims’ Law”.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 4th February 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexhange.co.uk

Sixty victims of loan sharks in witness protection – The Guardian

Posted January 27th, 2014 in enforcement, interest, intimidation, loans, news, threatening behaviour, victims, witnesses by sally

‘Sixty victims of loan sharks are in witness protection, according to the country’s leading official tasked with breaking the cycle of fear, intimidation and violence trapping families who have borrowed money from illegal lenders.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mike Hancock case: woman wins right to see full QC report – The Guardian

Posted January 27th, 2014 in complaints, disclosure, news, reports, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The alleged sexual assault victim of MP Mike Hancock has won the right to see a full version of an independent QC’s report about her accusations.’

Full story

The Guardian, 25th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mark Duggan coroner invites family to help shape police gun policy – The Guardian

Posted January 13th, 2014 in coroners, families, firearms, inquests, news, police, victims by tracey

‘The coroner in the Mark Duggan inquest is to invite the dead man’s family to help shape police firearms procedure. The senior circuit judge Keith Cutler, who is preparing recommendations on firearms procedure for the home secretary after issues raised at the inquest, described his decision to consult the family as “unusual, perhaps unique” but the right thing to do to achieve transparency.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sir Keir Starmer: Legal system ‘not fit for purpose’ – BBC News

Posted January 8th, 2014 in criminal justice, news, victims by sally

‘The justice system in England and Wales “is not fit for purpose for victims”, the former chief prosecutor has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 8th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Nigella Lawson: not a victim of the criminal justice system – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 7th, 2014 in bad character, cross-examination, fraud, news, victims, witnesses by sally

‘Nigella Lawson is a victim of domestic violence, but she is not a victim of the criminal justice system.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 7th January 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Jimmy Savile victims call for single inquiry – The Guardian

Posted January 6th, 2014 in child abuse, inquiries, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Victims of Jimmy Savile have called for a single judge-led inquiry into how the former DJ was able to evade justice for so long.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Trafficking victims forced into crime are let down by police, report reveals – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2013 in children, crime, news, reports, trafficking in human beings, victims by tracey

‘Trafficking victims who are forced into crime are being let down by the UK authorities, who are failing to stop them being prosecuted, a new report warns.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sentencing sexual offenders – a lost opportunity? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted December 19th, 2013 in news, sentencing, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘The Sentencing Council has issued a new Guideline in relation to sexual offences this month. The aim: “to help ensure appropriate and consistent sentences for sex offenders”, says the accompanying press release.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 18th December 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Eve’s Law: Domestic violence victims’ addresses ‘may be kept secret’ – BBC News

Posted December 18th, 2013 in disclosure, domestic violence, news, privacy, victims by sally

‘The government will consider a domestic violence campaigner’s proposal for new laws to allow victims to keep their safe house addresses secret in court.’

Full story

BBC News, 17th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Juror reported rape after sitting through another trial – BBC News

Posted December 16th, 2013 in child abuse, juries, news, police, rape, sentencing, statistics, victims by sally

‘A man has been jailed for rape after his victim worked up the courage to tell police the day after serving on the jury of another abuse trial.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government’s Modern Slavery Bill will ‘fail victims and spare criminals’ – The Independent

Posted December 16th, 2013 in bills, consultations, news, police, reports, trafficking in human beings, victims by sally

‘The Government’s Modern Slavery Bill is being rushed through Parliament without proper consultation and will offer almost no help to the victims of the crime, sources close to the process have told The Independent on Sunday.’

Full story

The Independent, 14th December 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New sentencing guideline gives greater focus to impact of sex offences on victims – Sentencing Council

Posted December 12th, 2013 in indecent photographs of children, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The Sentencing Council has published a new sentencing guideline for sexual offences which will help ensure appropriate and consistent sentences for sex offenders.’

Full story

Sentencing Council, 12th December 2013

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk