The Law and Rape – BBC Unreliable Evidence

Posted February 6th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, rape, victims, women by sally

‘Convictions for rape in the UK are described as “shockingly low”. Why does the law appear to be failing to protect women? Clive Anderson discusses what needs to be done to improve the situation with the Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders, Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner Martin Hewitt and two leading lawyers working in the area.’

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BBC Unreliable Evidence, 28th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sir Keir Starmer: police stations are intimidating for rape victims – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2015 in criminal justice, news, police, rape, sexual offences, victims, women by sally

‘Police stations are not the ideal place for victims to report crimes – particularly rape and sexual offences – according to the former director of public prosecutions, Sir Keir Starmer.’

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The Guardian, 4th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Halve female prisoner numbers: are we a step closer to change? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 30th, 2015 in criminal justice, news, prisons, women by sally

‘Today [29 January], Justice Minister Simon Hughes spoke on BBC Radio 5Live about the often thorny issue of female offenders and the way in which the Criminal Justice System (CJS) treats them. He said, “There are so many women who ought not to be in prison. About half ought not to be there at all…”’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 29th January 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Women with disabilities excluded from domestic abuse law, say campaigners – The Guardian

Posted January 29th, 2015 in bills, carers, crime, disabled persons, domestic violence, news, women by sally

‘A new law on domestic violence that criminalises “coercive control” could exclude women with disabilities, who are particularly vulnerable to such abuse, say campaigners.’

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The Guardian, 28th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jail ‘wrong’ for half of women inmates – The Independent

Posted January 29th, 2015 in imprisonment, news, prisons, reports, women by sally

‘Half the women in jail should not be behind bars, the Justice minister will admit today, as he launches fresh moves to tackle the vicious cycle of imprisonment and reoffending faced by many female inmates.’

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The Independent, 29th January 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High court upholds legal aid rules in domestic violence cases – The Guardian

‘Government regulations on access to legal aid for victims of domestic violence have been upheld by the high court.’

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Clare’s Law’ saves 1,300 women from violent partners in first year – The Independent

Posted January 26th, 2015 in criminal records, disclosure, domestic violence, murder, news, statistics, women by sally

‘A groundbreaking scheme that allows women to discover if their partner has a history of violence has been hailed a success after figures showed that more than 1,300 such warnings have been issued in less than a year.’

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The Independent, 26th January 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Female detainees at Yarl’s Wood routinely humiliated, claims report – The Guardian

‘Women detained in the Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre are routinely humiliated by male staff who monitor them while they are dressing, showering and using the toilet, or are naked in their rooms, a report into the treatment of female asylum seekers reveals. The report, by the charity Women for Refugee Women, noted that many female asylum seekers detained at Yarl’s Wood, in Bedfordshire, have been victims of sexual violence in their home countries.’

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The Guardian, 14th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Yarl’s Wood: UN special rapporteur to censure UK government – The Guardian

‘The official report of the UN special rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, will censure the UK government for preventing her from inspecting Yarl’s Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire.’

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The Guardian, 3rd January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government to create new domestic abuse offence – Home Office

Posted December 19th, 2014 in coercive & controlling behaviour, domestic violence, news, victims, women by sally

‘Home Secretary sets out new law to criminalise coercive and controlling behaviour.’

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Home Office, 18th December 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Domestic abuse charity criticises May’s law criminalising coercive behaviour – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2014 in coercive & controlling behaviour, domestic violence, news, victims, women by sally

‘The home secretary, Theresa May, announced on Thursday that a new domestic abuse offence of “coercive and controlling behaviour” is to be introduced, carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mass polygamy in UK Muslim community – claim – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 10th, 2014 in bills, Islam, islamic law, marriage, news, polygamy, women by sally

‘Peer warns widespread polygamy being ‘condoned’ as report claims many Muslim women trapped in legal limbo.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

109 women prosecuted for false rape claims over the last five years – Daily Telegraph

‘A number of women who report rapes are being ‘aggressively prosecuted’ by the police for perverting the course of justice, according to campaign group Women Against Rape.’

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Daily Telegraph, 2nd December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Julien Blanc ‘denied visa to enter UK’: Controversial ‘pick-up artist’ barred after petition signed by thousands – The Independent

Posted November 20th, 2014 in harassment, news, visas, women by tracey

‘Controversial “pick-up” artist Julien Blanc has been denied a visa to enter the UK after a sustained campaign to prevent him from touring in Britain, it has been reported.’

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The Independent, 19th November 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Women in prison: interviews with ex-offenders – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 17th, 2014 in criminal justice, news, prisons, rehabilitation, sentencing, women by sally

‘Halsbury’s Law Exchange carried out interviews with six female ex-offenders as part of wider research into women in prison and the penal system. This video was first premiered at the panel discussion: Women in prison: is the penal system fit for purpose? on 11 November 2014.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th November 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Female offenders have been failed agrees Hughes at prison event – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 17th, 2014 in children, codes of practice, criminal justice, legal aid, news, prisons, sentencing, women by sally

‘This is the “end of line as far as talk is concerned” concluded Felicity Gerry QC, bringing the interesting, illuminating and varied panel discussion to an end last night, challenging Simon Hughes MP to seize this opportunity to make his mark and make a real difference to women offenders.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th November 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Foetal alcohol syndrome compensation case goes before Court of Appeal – The Independent

Posted November 5th, 2014 in alcohol abuse, appeals, crime, news, pregnancy, women by sally

‘A six-year-old girl born with disabilities caused by her mother drinking while she was in the womb could be awarded criminal injuries compensation at a case being heard by the Court of Appeal tomorrow.’

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The Independent, 4th November 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

How to be a feminist lawyer – Garden Court Chambers Blog

Posted October 28th, 2014 in barristers, legal profession, news, speeches, women by sally

‘Elizabeth Woodcraft and Alison Diduck, a Professor at University College London, speak about what it means to be a feminist barrister.’

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Garden Court Chambers Blog,

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

New minicab law ‘would put women at risk’ – The Independent

‘Ministers will come under fresh pressure this week not to ease rules on minicabs, a relaxation that safety campaigners say would endanger vulnerable women.’

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The Independent, 19th October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Women make up only 25% of judges in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2014 in diversity, equality, judiciary, news, reports, women by sally

‘The UK judicial system lags well behind the rest of Europe in terms of gender balance, according to a study of the relative efficiency of justice systems published on Thursday.’

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The Guardian, 9th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk