‘The CPS has published refreshed rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) legal guidance, delivering on our ongoing commitment to make the prosecution of these crimes reflect today’s rapidly changing society.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 21st May 2021
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
‘Rape victims in England and Wales will be able to provide their evidence on video prior to a trial to help improve conviction rates, it is understood.’
The Guardian, 17th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A chef who raped five women after spiking their drinks has been jailed for 24 years.’
BBC News, 22nd April 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A report prepared by magic circle firm Freshfields into the alleged rape of a bank employee was not covered by legal privilege, according to an employment tribunal ruling that has now been made public.’
Law Society's Gazette, 21st April 2021
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Universities have ignored repeated warnings to tackle rape culture on campus, and left themselves exposed to lawsuits and reputational damage, according to lawyers and campaigners.’
The Guardian, 15th April 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A drug used in attacks by the UK’s most prolific rapist and the serial killer Stephen Port will be reclassified.’
BBC News, 30th March 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Sexual harassment and assault claims made by school pupils on a website may be the “next child abuse scandal that engulfs the nation”, police have said.’
BBC News, 29th March 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘In The Trustees of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses v BXB [2021] EWCA Civ 356, the Court of Appeal has offered further guidance on vicarious liability following Supreme Court decisions last year in VM Morrison Supermarkets PLC v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 12 and Barclays Bank v Various Claimants [2020] UKSC 13.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 25th March 2021
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘In Barry Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses v BXB [2021] EWCA Civ 356, Mrs B and her husband had attended the Kingdom Hall in Barry and in 1986 Mrs B was baptised as a Jehovah’s Witness. They became friendly with another couple, Mark and Mary Sewell. Mark Sewell was a ministerial servant and subsequently became an elder. On 30 April 1990, Sewell raped Mrs B in a room in his house – and that fact was undisputed. In 2014, Sewell was convicted of raping Mrs B and of indecently assaulting a girl aged under 14, CXC, and another individual and sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment. Mrs B sued the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and the Trustees of the Barry Congregation and, at first instance, Chamberlain J held them vicariously liable for her rape. (He also determined that it was equitable to extend the time to allow the claims to proceed, pursuant to s.33 Limitation Act 1980). He awarded Mrs B £62,000 for psychiatric injuries attributable to the rape. On appeal, the defendants disputed.’
Law & Religion UK, 24th March 2021
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘Half of women have little or no faith in the authorities to prosecute crimes against them, according to a new poll. Almost a quarter have “no trust at all” in the Crown Prosecution Service, the research by Savanta ComRes found.’
The Independent, 21st March 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The trial of a former Labour peer accused of sexually abusing younger children has collapsed due a “disgraceful” late disclosure of evidence by the prosecution, a judge has said.’
The Guardian, 9th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The black-cab driver John Worboys has lost his appeal against the two additional life sentences he received in 2019 when more victims of the serial rapist came forward.’
The Guardian, 24th February 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Two sisters say they’ve been silenced by the man they reported for sexual assault after he sued them for talking about what happened.’
BBC News, 24th February 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘One of the survivors of the Rotherham grooming scandal has asked the government to give children born from rape legal “victim” status so they can receive specialist help and potentially prosecute their fathers.’
The Guardian, 16th February 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Crack teams of specialist police officers are needed to bring rapists to justice and prevent a wholesale collapse of public confidence in the criminal justice system, according to the police lead for rape in England and Wales.’
The Guardian, 14th February 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Crown Prosecution Service has denied making major changes to its approach to charging rape, at a landmark legal hearing at the court of appeal.’
The Guardian, 27th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been accused of “systemic illegality” in its approach to charging rape cases in a landmark judicial review into how the crime is prosecuted.’
The Guardian, 26th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘In a landmark hearing this week, rape victims aim to discover if their complaints failed due to a covert move to drop “weak cases.” ‘
The Guardian, 24th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A landmark hearing in the court of appeal is under way to examine how cases of domestic abuse are handled by judges in the family courts.’
The Guardian, 19th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A grime artist convicted of repeatedly raping four women has had his jail sentence increased on appeal.’
BBC News, 16th January 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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