Child sexual abuse victims are being failed by courts, says NSPCC – The Guardian

“Children giving evidence in court in sexual abuse cases need to be given more support because many suffer from stress before a trial, the NSPCC has said.”

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The Guardian, 5th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Domestic abuse victims should have right to keep address secret, say campaigners – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 7th, 2013 in children, debts, disclosure, domestic violence, news, privacy, victims by sally

“A woman is calling for new laws to allow victims of domestic violence to withhold their addresses in court to protect them and their children.”

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Daily Telegraph, 6th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Crime victims with mental illness ignored, research suggests – BBC News

“People with mental illnesses are three times more likely to be victims of crime than the general population, new research suggests.”

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BBC News, 7th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Instant Justice – BBC Unreliable Evidence

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in cautions, crime, news, penalties, police, victims by sally

“The widespread use of on-the-spot fines, fixed penalties, cautions and other ‘out of court disposals’ has raised concerns that the criminal justice system is being undermined.”

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BBC Unreliable Evidence, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mesothelioma charities clash with Ministry of Justice over Grant ‘pledge’ – Litigation Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in asbestos, charities, compensation, news, victims by sally

“The government has played down claims by charities supporting asbestos victims that minister Helen Grant agreed not to introduce changes to the compensation regime that they did not support.”

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Litigation Futures, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

The unsung heroes who share court victims’ burden of grief and trauma – The Independent

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in charities, courts, news, victims by sally

“A team of volunteers supports those exposed to some of the Old Bailey’s most harrowing cases.”

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The Independent, 1st October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Witnesses tell of feeling abandoned and uninformed in criminal court cases – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2013 in barristers, courts, criminal procedure, news, reports, victims, witnesses by sally

“Victims and witnesses are being marginalised and put through needless stress and anxiety in the criminal courts in England and Wales, according to new research.”

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The Guardian, 30th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoD paid £3,000 compensation for Afghans killed by UK military – The Independent

Posted September 23rd, 2013 in Afghanistan, armed forces, compensation, families, news, victims by sally

“The families of almost 200 innocent victims of British military activity in Afghanistan have been compensated with barely £3,000 each, the Government has revealed.”

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The Independent, 22nd September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Michael Le Vell case: the accuser deserves anonymity – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted September 20th, 2013 in anonymity, criminal justice, news, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

“The recent trial and acquittal of Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell raises some worrying thoughts as regards the young girl in the case. Her anonymity is preserved as the law states that of all those who allege rape should be; Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, as amended by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, Sch 2. However, there have been press reports of her identity being leaked on Twitter and it is apparently common knowledge in certain circles.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 19th September 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Cross-Examination in the Dock – BBC Unreliable Evidence

Posted September 17th, 2013 in cross-examination, news, trials, victims, witnesses by sally

“In the first of a news series, Clive Anderson asks if overly aggressive cross-examination of witnesses in court turns trial by jury into trial by ordeal.”

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BBC Unreliable Evidence, 11th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

PC Jordan Powell jailed for sex text message misconduct – BBC News

Posted September 17th, 2013 in disciplinary procedures, news, police, telecommunications, victims by sally

“A West Mercia police officer who sent sexual text messages to female victims of crime has been jailed for 15 months.”

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BBC News, 16th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hanged Essex teenager’s sex abuser jailed – BBC News

Posted September 16th, 2013 in child abuse, news, sentencing, sexual offences, suicide, victims by tracey

“A sex abuser whose 14-year-old victim hanged herself in her Essex home has been jailed for seven years.”

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BBC News, 13th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Libel victims to have legal costs protected – BBC News

Posted September 13th, 2013 in costs, defamation, news, victims by tracey

“The Ministry of Justice has proposed new measures to help libel claimants take on big corporations.”

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BBC News, 13th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sex attacker shown mercy after plea from victim has sentence increased – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 13th, 2013 in appeals, news, offensive weapons, rape, rehabilitation, sentencing, suspended sentences, victims by tracey

“A sex attacker given a suspended jail term for a knifepoint rape after his victim said he needed ‘help not punishment’ has had his ‘unduly lenient’ sentence increased to a five years in prison.”

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Daily Telegraph, 13th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Nine men accused of sex attacks on girl, 14, released after prosecutors find Twitter feed – The Independent

Posted September 13th, 2013 in news, prosecutions, sexual offences, victims by tracey

“Nine men accused of sex attacks over six months on a 14-year-old girl walked free from the Old Bailey today. The case collapsed when police discovered the contents of the alleged victim’s old Twitter account.”

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The Independent, 12th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Equitable Life scandal victims to receive compensation this year – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 11th, 2013 in compensation, maladministration, news, pensions, victims by tracey

“Around 10,000 victims of the Equitable Life scandal will receive a £5,000 compensation payment a year early, the Government has announced.”

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Daily Telegraph, 10th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Michael Le Vell cleared: Should rape suspects get anonymity? – BBC News

Posted September 11th, 2013 in anonymity, child abuse, news, rape, sexual offences, victims by tracey

“In the wake of Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell being cleared of child rape and other sex abuse charges, the question of whether suspects in such cases should be granted anonymity, just as complainants are, arises once more.”

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BBC News, 11th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Abuse of Asian girls missed because of focus on white victims, says report – The Guardian

Posted September 10th, 2013 in news, race discrimination, reports, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by tracey

“Asian girls are the hidden victims of child grooming gangs, dipping under the radar of police or social services, according to a report released on Tuesday. Vulnerable girls and some boys are being sexually exploited by gangs of men but are being missed by the authorities because agencies are too focused on a model of grooming involving white victims, according to research from the Muslim Women’s Network UK.”

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The Guardian, 10th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court failings scupper 500 cases a week – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2013 in courts, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, reports, victims, witnesses by sally

“More than 500 court cases are being thrown out or delayed each week due to failings by prosecutors or in the court system, it has been claimed.”

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The Independent, 5th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police accused as domestic violence cases fall, but allegations by victims increase – The Independent

“The police are referring fewer allegations of domestic violence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) even though the number of allegations by victims is increasing.”

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The Independent, 3rd September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk