Oxford Union president Ben Sullivan’s rape case decision to be reviewed – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 17th, 2015 in appeals, Crown Prosecution Service, news, rape, victims by sally

‘Crown Prosecution Service confirms request to look again at rape allegation against Ben Sullivan is made through Victims’ Right to Review scheme.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge brands rape victim ‘foolish’ for drinking too much – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 16th, 2015 in alcohol abuse, consent, Crown Prosecution Service, news, rape, sentencing, victims by sally

‘Mr Justice Males describes rape victim as ‘very unwise” for drinking so much in a nightclub she was raped by two men.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Punish hate crime on social media with internet asbos, say MPs – The Guardian

‘Social media users who persistently spread racial hatred online should be given “internet asbos” blocking them from sites such as Facebook and Twitter, according to an MPs’ report that examines the rising levels of antisemitism in Britain.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

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.’

Listen

BBC Unreliable Evidence, 28th January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Speaking to witnesses at court: consultation – Attorney General’s Office

‘We are committed to giving an excellent service to all victims and witnesses who attend court as part of our overall commitment to support victims and witnesses effectively throughout their time in the criminal justice system. The aim of this consultation is to ask for responses to the draft guidance which sets out the role played by prosecutors at or before court in ensuring that witnesses give their best evidence. This is a core part of the prosecutor’s job and will, if done properly, impact positively on both the quality of the witness’s evidence in court and the perception of the service they receive from us.’

Full consultation

Attorney General’s Office, 19th January 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Outcry as CPS drops trial of anti-drone protesters at last minute – The Independent

‘The prosecution of arms-trade protesters who occupied a British drone engines manufacturer has been dropped at the last minute, after the company refused to hand over evidence about its exports of weaponry to Israel, The Independent can reveal.’

Full story

The Independent, 30th January 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The DPP’s tough new rape guidelines: What are they and why are they so important? – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions, rape, victims by sally

‘Rape suspects will now have a greater burden of responsibility to demonstrate how a possible victim consented “with full capacity and freedom to do so” to authorities.’

Full story

The Independent, 29th January 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New rape guidelines are welcome – if they’re actually followed – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions, rape by sally

‘The latest CPS advice issued to help police dispel rape myths is meaningless if ignored by officers on the ground.’

Full story

The Guardian, 29th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Campaigners hail DPP’s tough new rape guidelines as ‘huge step forward’ – The Independent

Posted January 29th, 2015 in consent, Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, rape by sally

‘Radical changes to the way sex offences are investigated have been hailed as a “huge step forward” by campaigners.’

Full story

The Independent, 28th January 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Alice Gross – joint statement from the CPS and the Metropolitan Police – Crown Prosecution Service

‘At the end of the investigation into the disappearance and death of Alice Gross, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) submitted a report to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). That report proposed that Arnis Zalkalns was responsible for her abduction and murder.’

Full press release

Corwn Prosecution Service, 27th January 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

DPP to consult on greater assistance to victims giving evidence at court – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Alison Saunders, the Director of Public Prosecutions, has today [19 January 2015] published a major consultation on the approach to ensuring victims are properly assisted for the trial process at court and called for an overhaul of the service provided to witnesses to ensure that they are able to give the best possible evidence. The proposals are subject to an eight week public consultation.’

Full consultation

Crown Prosecution Service, 19th January 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Rape victims will be warned of defence lawyer tactics under new guidelines – Daily Telegraph

‘Director of Public Prosecutions launches controversial new guidelines intended to help victims and witnesses through giving evidence in court.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Updated CPS-Police Rape Protocol launched as DPP warns of rising caseloads – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted January 14th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, police, press releases, rape, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘A joint protocol, created and implemented by the Crown Prosecution Service and the Police has been launched today [Thursday 8 January 2015], setting out how to deal with all rape cases from the initial complaint to after the verdict in a trial.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 8th January 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Rape trials rise by 30% as courts fight to clear caseload – The Guardian

Posted January 8th, 2015 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions, rape, victims by sally

‘Prosecutors are experiencing a 30% surge in the number of rape trials as courts struggle to cope with a backlog of historical allegations and fresh cases.’

Full story

The Guardian, 8th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions on Eleanor de Freitas – CPS News Brief

‘Eleanor de Freitas’ tragic death was just days before she was due to stand trial for perverting the course of justice. The pending inquest will deal with the circumstances surrounding her death and I do not want to interfere with that process. However the case has understandably raised questions about private prosecutions in these types of cases and why the CPS took over and continued this particular case.’

Full story

CPS News Brief, 9th December 2014

Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk

CPS ‘right’ to pursue De Freitas case after rape allegation – BBC News

‘The UK’s top prosecutor has defended pursuing a woman who killed herself days before appearing in court accused of making a false rape allegation.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mazher Mahmood: CPS to re-examine 25 ‘Fake Sheikh’ cases – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 8th, 2014 in Crown Prosecution Service, damages, evidence, miscarriage of justice, news by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service says 25 cases where the undercover journalist was a prosecution witness will be reviewed.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Boris Johnson to seek control of CPS and court system in London – The Guardian

‘Boris Johnson wants to secure control of the courts and the prosecution service, a move which would put London’s mayor in charge of the criminal justice system in the capital, the Guardian has learned. The plan would see control wrested from Whitehall and the devolution of the most important pillars of the justice system.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

CPS decide no criminal charges should be brought following investigation into police actions in relation to the Kevin Nunes murder trial – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Operation Kalmia 2 was an investigation to determine whether any offences had been committed in connection with Staffordshire Police’s handling of disclosure of unused material in a prosecution (relating to the death of Kevin Nunes), which resulted in the convictions for murder in the subsequent criminal proceedings being quashed by the Court of Appeal. Following an investigation led by Chief Constable of Derbyshire Mick Creedon and managed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was asked to consider allegations in relation to two matters relating to the handling of the murder trial.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 19th November 2014

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Man jailed for WhatsApp ‘revenge porn’ after posting images of woman online – The Guardian

‘A 21-year-old man is believed to have become the first person in the UK to be jailed for posting revenge porn online.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk