Thieves should not be jailed, says law expert – The Guardian

“Law professor Andrew Ashworth says prison should only be used for most serious violent, threatening or sexual crimes.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Exclusive: The violent men cleared by police – The Independent

Posted August 12th, 2013 in complaints, domestic violence, news, police, prosecutions, recidivists, victims by sally

“Police failed to arrest thousands of domestic abuse suspects who went on to commit violent crimes, including murder, rape and assault, an Independent on Sunday investigation reveals.”

Full story

The Independent, 11th August 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Robert Colover investigation: the misunderstandings around sex offence trials – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted August 9th, 2013 in barristers, children, news, pornography, sentencing, sexual offences, trials, victims by sally

“Calamitous comments by barrister Robert Colover have made the headlines this week as he referred to the victim of sexual offending as “predatory” and “sexually experienced”. The defendant was appearing for sentence before His Honour Judge Peters QC sitting at Snaresbrook Crown Court for two counts of making (downloading) extreme pornography (not images of children) and one count of sexual activity with a child. He received a sentence of eight months imprisonment suspended for two years. He was 41-years-old and she was 13-years-old. The CPS, who instructed the barrister to prosecute this case from their list of accredited advocates, has issued a press release that the comments should not have been used and initiated an investigation.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 8th August 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Barrister who called child sex abuse victim ‘predatory’ criticised by DPP – The Guardian

“A prosecuting barrister and a judge involved in a sex abuse case during which the 13-year-old-victim was described as “predatory” have been referred to separate inquiries.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Top judge rejects calls for specialist sex crime courts – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 7th, 2013 in child abuse, courts, cross-examination, judges, news, sexual offences, victims, witnesses by sally

“The most senior judge in England and Wales has rejected calls for specialist courts to deal with child sex abuse cases.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Child abuse victims to get specialist trial judges – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 7th, 2013 in child abuse, cross-examination, judiciary, news, sexual offences, victims, witnesses by sally

“Child victims of sexual abuse will have their cases tried by a hand picked panel of specialist judges to give them more protection in criminal trials, the Lord Chief Justice is expected to announce.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Guardian rejects press watchdog as ‘own goal’ threatening independence – The Guardian

Posted August 7th, 2013 in interception, media, news, privacy, regulations, victims by sally

“The publisher of the Guardian has rejected a new press self-regulator as proposed by the industry, saying that the proposed funding method threatens its independence and that the biggest national newspapers will call the shots.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rape victims let down by CPS, says watchdog – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 31st, 2013 in disclosure, human rights, medical records, news, prosecutions, rape, victims by sally

“Rape victims’ human rights are being infringed by the Crown Prosecution Service handing defence lawyers too much information about their injuries and treatment, a watchdog has said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rapist taxi driver Terence Collins jailed – BBC News

Posted July 29th, 2013 in news, rape, sentencing, taxis, victims by sally

“A rapist taxi driver described by a prosecutor as ‘every woman’s worst nightmare’ has been jailed.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoJ proposes online scheme for asbestos victims – Law Society’s Gazette

“Victims of asbestos-related disease are to be offered a process for out-of-court compensation along the lines of the RTA Portal, under proposals to support mesothelioma sufferers announced by the Ministry of Justice today.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 24th July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Myths about rape myths – OUP Blog

Posted July 22nd, 2013 in news, prosecutions, rape, statistics, victims by sally

“In recent decades, England and Wales have experienced extensive rape law reform and a substantial rise in rape reporting, but the number of rape convictions has not kept pace, leading to a galloping attrition rate: the current proportion of recorded rapes that result in a rape conviction is about 7%. To the extent that rape law reform aimed at convicting more men of rape, it has not been an unqualified success.”

Full story

OUP Blog, 22nd July 2013

Source: www.blog.oup.com

Jimmy Savile: BBC sets aside millions to compensate victims – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 18th, 2013 in BBC, compensation, news, sexual offences, victims by tracey

” The corporation disclosed in its annual accounts that it has made ‘provision for future compensation claims’ from victims of Jimmy Savile. The accounts show it has set aside £19.1 million for compensation claims, although the money will also be used for other cases. Many of his 214 known offences were on BBC premises, and Savile even attacked a girl during the last edition of Top of the Pops in 2006.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Stuart Hall sex attack sentence to be reviewed – BBC News

Posted July 11th, 2013 in news, recidivists, sentencing, sexual offences, victims by sally

“The sentence given to BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall for convictions for sexual abuse will be reviewed following complaints he ‘got off lightly’.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stalking advocacy group for victims launches – BBC News

Posted July 11th, 2013 in harassment, news, police, restraining orders, stalking, victims by sally

“An advocacy group for stalking victims in England and Wales – the first of its kind – is to be launched later.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Gutting’ of Jillings child abuse report angers victims – The Guardian

“A decision to continue to withhold crucial details from a damning report on widespread abuse in children’s homes has been strongly criticised by victims, lawyers and child protection experts.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court to decide if Graham Ovenden’s sentence was too lenient – The Guardian

“An internationally renowned artist who walked free from court despite being convicted of a string of sexual offences against child models is to have his sentence reviewed by the appeal court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Press regulation royal charter not imminent – BBC News

Posted July 3rd, 2013 in charters, media, news, regulations, victims by sally

“A royal charter to regulate the press will not be introduced until the autumn at the earliest, the BBC has learnt.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Anthony Still convicted of blackmailing businessman – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted July 1st, 2013 in anonymity, blackmail, police, press releases, sentencing, victims by tracey

“Anthony Still has been convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court of blackmailing a businessman who paid him £600,000 to stop him revealing details about a secret affair. The businessman, known in court as ‘Barnaby’, decided he could no longer go on paying and went to the police last year. Still was jailed for 11 years.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 28th June 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Courtroom treatment of vulnerable victims faces review – The Guardian

“An investigation is being launched into aggressive courtroom cross-examination of vulnerable victims in the wake of high-profile child sex abuse cases, Damian Green has confirmed. The justice minister said work would be carried out over the summer to find ways to curb hostile practices after a growing number of cases in which witnesses were left ‘deeply traumatised.'”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sex offence claims rise in wake of Savile scandal – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 1st, 2013 in child abuse, cross-examination, news, police, sexual offences, statistics, victims by tracey

“Reports of sex offences overall, both historic and current, has also increased, with one police force seeing allegations almost double since last October, when the Savile affair first emerged.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

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