Court of appeal quashes the convictions of four victims of human trafficking and releases new guidelines to protect others – The Independent

“Victims of the ‘vile’ offence of human trafficking who become involved in crime should have their cases dealt with by the justice system with the ‘greatest sensitivity’, leading judges said today.”

Full story

The Independent, 21st June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Defamation on social media – Law Society’s Gazette

“On 24 May Mr Justice Tugendhat handed down the judgment in McAlpine v Bercow [2013] EWHC 1342 (QB), finding that Mrs Bercow’s tweet carried a defamatory meaning. Following the judgment it was announced that Bercow had accepted an earlier settlement offer, saying that ‘today’s ruling should be seen as a warning to all social media users’. Although Twitter litigation is no longer new (the site has been the form of publication in a number of cases, most notably Cairns v Modi [2012] EWHC 756 (QB)), McAlpine is the first to really tackle the peculiar nature of this social media genre and could mark a key moment in social media use.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 17th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar pledges full support for CPS Advocate Panel extension to safeguard children involved in sexual offences – The Bar Council

Posted June 14th, 2013 in barristers, children, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

“The Bar Council, the Circuit Leaders and the Criminal Bar Association have today announced their joint support for the extension of the Crown Prosecution Services’ (CPS) Advocate Panel’s rape remit to include sexual offences involving children.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 13th June 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

CPS publishes guidelines on prosecutors’ approach to Child Sexual Abuse cases – Crown Prosecution Service

“Ground breaking new guidelines for prosecutors on how to tackle cases involving child sexual abuse have today been issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions and will take immediate effect. At the same time, the College of Policing has issued guidance for investigators and both documents are now open to a three month public consultation.”

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 11th June 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Warning: CPS keep victim appeals in house – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“There is a new independent Assessor (Stephen Shaw) for non-legal complaints made about the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) but not for the legal ones – how very odd! It was recently reported that victims of crime will be able to ‘win the right’ to appeal against decisions by the CPS not to charge suspects and there is a consultation which is open until the 5th of September 2013. It has a mnemonic ‘VRR’ which stands for a ‘Victim’s Right to Review’.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 12th June 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Keir Starmer: terrorists could escape prosecution without ‘snoopers’ charter’ – Daily Telegraph

“There is a ‘real risk’ that terrorists could avoid prosecution if proposed internet monitoring powers are abandoned, the country’s top prosecutor has said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Four sex-abuse cases referred to police for reconsideration – BBC News

“Police have been asked to reconsider their decision to drop four sex-abuse cases, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Case discontinued over social media comments after Woolwich murder – The Guardian

Posted June 12th, 2013 in armed forces, internet, malicious communications, murder, news, prosecutions by sally

“A 19-year-old man accused of making comments on a social media website following the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby has had his court case discontinued.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Too many human traffickers escape justice in UK, says solicitor general – The Guardian

“Too few of the human traffickers who force women to work in the sex trade and children to labour in cannabis farms are being prosecuted in the UK, according to the solicitor general, Oliver Heald QC.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crime victims allowed to challenge prosecutors – The Guardian

“Victims are to be given new rights to challenge the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision not to charge a suspect or to drop a prosecution.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Breaking the taboo: One rape victim tells her story – BBC News

Posted June 3rd, 2013 in consent, evidence, news, prosecutions, rape, statistics, victims by sally

“It is estimated that 12,000 men and 85,000 women on average are raped in England and Wales every year, but it is not an issue that is talked about openly. One woman has waived her anonymity and bravely spoken about her story, from reporting the attack to bringing her rapist to justice.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd May 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Home Office pledge to review ‘excessive’ time spent on bail is ignored by Government – The Independent

Posted May 29th, 2013 in bail, budgets, news, prosecutions, statistics, time limits by sally

“The Home Office has been accused of going back on a promise to tackle the ‘excessive duration’ of police bail, after new figures showed that more than 3,000 people have waited six months for a decision on charges.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th May 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Regina (F) v Director of Public Prosecutions – WLR Daily

Posted May 16th, 2013 in consent, Crown Prosecution Service, law reports, prosecutions, rape by sally

Regina (F) v Director of Public Prosecutions [2013] EWHC 945 (Admin); [2013] WLR (D) 178

“For the purposes of an offence of rape contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, choice was crucial to the issue of ‘consent’ to sexual intercourse. Evidence relating to ‘choice’ and the ‘freedom’ to make any particular choice had to be approached in a broad common sense way. Where a man deliberately ignored the basis of his partner’s consent to penetration as a manifestation of his control over her consent to penetration could be vitiated and give rise to a conviction for rape.”

WLR Daily, 24th April 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

CPS publishes Guidance on Charging Offences arising from Driving Incidents following public consultation – Crown Prosecution service

“The Crown Prosecution Service has today published its Guidance on Charging Offences arising from Driving Incidents. The two most significant changes from previous guidance concern drivers in emergencies and deaths where the victim is a close friend or relative of the driver.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 9th May 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Attorneys General support prosecutions of rape in conflicts – Attorney General’s Office

Posted May 10th, 2013 in attorney general, international relations, news, prosecutions, rape by sally

“The Attorneys General of Canada, Australia, the United States, New Zealand and England and Wales have resolved to work together more closely to fight sexual violence against women and children at yesterday’s annual Quintet meeting of Attorneys General in Auckland.”

Full story

Attorney General’s Office, 9th May 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Grieving drivers who kill loved ones could escape prosecution – Daily Telegraph

“Dangerous drivers who kill a loved one could for the first time avoid prosecution because of their emotional trauma, the country’s top prosecutor said today.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th May 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Animal cruelty convictions up 33% in England and Wales – The Independent

Posted April 30th, 2013 in animal cruelty, news, prosecutions, reports by sally

“Convictions for animal neglect and cruelty have risen by a third in England and Wales, according to an RSPCA report.”

Full story

The Independent, 30th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Why consensual sex may still be rape – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted April 26th, 2013 in consent, judicial review, news, prosecutions, rape by tracey

“The BBC has reported today that the law on consent has been further defined by the Lord Chief Justice. The article reads: ‘A woman who agreed to sex might still be the victim of rape, the High Court has ruled. The most senior judge in England and Wales and two other judges said there was consensual penetration, but the man behaved aggressively and ignored the woman’s demand that he not ejaculate.’ ”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 25th April 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Sex consent could still lead to rape charge, judges say – BBC News

Posted April 25th, 2013 in assault, consent, news, prosecutions, rape by sally

“A woman who agreed to sex might still be the victim of rape, the High Court has ruled.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th April 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rape conviction rate at an all-time high – The Guardian

“Conviction rates for rape and domestic violence cases have risen to an all time high, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) has revealed, amid criticism that too few cases are being brought to court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk