Police and prosecutors apologise to disabled victims of crime – The Guardian

Posted May 11th, 2009 in criminal justice, disabled persons, news, victims by sally

“Many disabled victims  of crime are being failed by the system, the Guardian has learned, following two cases in which the Crown Prosecution Service and the police were forced to apologise for not taking offences seriously enough.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government welcomes report highlighting major improvements for victims and witnesses – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 8th, 2009 in press releases, victims, witnesses by sally

“Over 80% of victims and witnesses are satisfied with their experience of the criminal justice system, an independent report published by the Criminal Justice inspectorates today, has highlighted.”

Full press release 

Ministry of Justice, 7th May 2009

Surde: www.justice.gov.uk

Review begins into cross-examination of rape victim, four – The Times

Posted May 5th, 2009 in children, cross-examination, news, rape, victims by sally

“An independent review is underway into how Haringey Social Services dealt with the case of a two-year-old girl raped by a man convicted over Baby P’s death.”

Full story

The Times, 2nd May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

New measures to support victims of sexual assault – Home Office

Posted April 15th, 2009 in news, rape, victims by sally

“New measures to improve the investigation and prosecution of rape and to provide support to victims were announced today by Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker.”

Full story

Home Office, 15th April 2009

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Revolution needed to put victims at heart of justice system – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2009 in criminal justice, news, victims by sally

“Victims are not at the heart of the criminal justice system and it would take a ‘revolution’ to put them there, the country’s leading support group warns today.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Domestic violence: 18 new special courts announced – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 27th, 2009 in courts, domestic violence, news, victims by sally

“Victims of Domestic Violence will receive extra help and support from 18 new Specialist Domestic Violence Courts, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice announced today.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 26th March 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Regina (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions, Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening – Times Law Reports

Regina (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions, Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening

Queen’s Bench Division

“The decision to abandon a prosecution because of the victim’s mental instability was irrational and a violation of the victim’s right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment protected by article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

The Times, 24th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Legal threat to councils over rape victims – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2009 in local government, news, rape, victims by sally

“More than 100 councils will today be threatened with legal action over their failure to provide rape crisis centres and domestic violence support services, with a strongly worded warning issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

R (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted January 28th, 2009 in Crown Prosecution Service, law reports, mental health, prosecutions, victims by sally

R (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2009] EWHC 106 (Admin); [2009] WLR (D) 25

The decision to abandon a prosecution because of the victim’s mental instability involved a misapplication of the Code for Crown Prosecutors, was irrational and was a violation of the victim’s rights under art 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.”

WLR Daily, 27th January 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Mentally ill victim was failed by CPS – The Independent

Posted January 28th, 2009 in Crown Prosecution Service, mental health, news, prosecutions, victims by sally

“A decision by prosecutors to drop a serious criminal assault case because the victim, who had half an ear bitten off, suffered mental health problems, has been severely criticised by High Court judges.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th January 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Regina v Saw; Regina v Tete-Djawu; Regina v Smith (Martin); Regina v Kassa; Regina v Younis; Regina v McPhee – Times Law Reports

Posted January 26th, 2009 in burglary, law reports, sentencing, victims by sally

Regina v Saw; Regina v Tete-Djawu; Regina v Smith (Martin); Regina v Kassa; Regina v Younis; Regina v McPhee

Court of Appeal

“When sentencing defendants for domestic burglary, the judge should have in mind the impact of the offence on the victim, as well as the culpability of the defendant.”

The Times, 26th January 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Jack Straw: new laws focus on victims of crime and the bereaved – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 14th, 2009 in coroners, news, victims, witnesses by sally

“Modernisation of the coroners system and better protection for witnesses during criminal investigations were amongst the new measures announced by Justice Secretary Jack Straw in Parliament today when he published the Coroners and Justice Bill.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 14th January 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Robbery trial collapses after judge finds victim ‘too believable’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 14th, 2009 in news, robbery, victims, witnesses by sally

“A man accused of robbing a driving instructor has been found not guilty after a judge found that his alleged victim was ‘too believable’ in her evidence.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th January 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

How the law protects victims and their families from ‘jigsaw’ identification – The Times

Posted November 27th, 2008 in anonymity, news, victims by sally

“The daughters who were raped by their father, and their surviving children, are protected in law from being identified because of the anonymity granted to victims of sexual offences.”

Full story

The Times, 27th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

95% of violence victims do not seek compensation – The Times

Posted November 20th, 2008 in criminal injuries compensation, news, victims by sally

“Fewer than 5 per cent of victims of violent crime bother to claim compensation – in some cases of up to half a million pounds, MPs say today.”

Full story

The Times, 20th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Red tape ‘stops police visiting crime victims’ officers tell Jacqui Smith – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 17th, 2008 in news, police, victims by sally

“Rank-and-file police officers have said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s desire for them to visit every victim of crime in person is ‘laudable’ but cannot be achieved without slashing red tape.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th November 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Victims’ statements ‘a success’ – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2008 in murder, news, victims by sally

“A pilot scheme giving murder victims’ families a chance to tell the court how the death has affected them has been a success, says the Ministry of Justice.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th October 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court statements for families of murder victims ‘a success’ says new report – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 30th, 2008 in murder, news, victims by sally

“A pilot scheme giving families of murder victims a chance to tell the court how the death has affected them has proven to be a success, according to research published today by the Ministry of Justice.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 30th October 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Jack Straw driven nuts by his own jargon – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2008 in news, prisons, victims by sally

“In an outspoken attack, he criticised prison campaigners for overlooking the suffering of victims while becoming ‘lost in a fog of platitudes’.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th October 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rape victims have to pay when calling for help – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2008 in news, rape, telecommunications, victims by sally

“Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said new Government-funded Sexual Assault Referral Centres across the country will improve the support given to victims.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 28th October 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk