‘Greater Manchester police will not oppose the appeal of a man who spent 17 years in prison for rape when no DNA linked him to the crime, the Guardian has learned.’
The Guardian, 24th May 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Greater restrictions should be introduced on the use of rape complainants’ personal records and evidence relating to their sexual behaviour to avoid rape myths contaminating trials in England and Wales, a government-commissioned review has said.’
The Guardian, 23rd May 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A junior servicewoman said she was a victim of rape and forced to leave the armed forces while her abuser was protected, according to whistleblower testimony collected and published by a parliamentary committee on Thursday.’
The Guardian, 18th May 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Police chiefs have issued the first official assessment of violence against women and girls in the UK, placing such offences on the same footing as terrorism and serious organised crime. The 230-page intelligence document outlining the crimes that pose the greatest threats to women and girls has been shared with all forces by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).’
The Guardian, 18th May 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The claimant was a member of the defendant’s church. She and her husband had formed a close friendship with an elder in the church. During a visit to the elder’s house in 1990, the elder raped the claimant while they were together in a room. She reported the crime to the police in 2014 and her assailant was convicted and imprisoned. She then brought a claim against the defendant alleging that it was vicariously liable for the elder’s attack on her. At first instance, the trial judge held that the defendant was vicariously liable and that decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal. The defendant then appealed to the Supreme Court.’
Law Society's Gazette, 12th May 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Police will be barred from asking for rape victims’ therapy, health, school or other personal records unless it is “absolutely necessary” under new laws to reverse plummeting conviction rates.’
Daily Telegraph, 16th May 2023
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘A man who was jailed for 13 rapes has been recalled to prison just weeks after being released.’
BBC News, 13th May 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Encouraging abuse victims to come forward without a specialist support system in place is “totally irresponsible”, campaigners have said.’
BBC News, 15th May 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A killer who murdered two women in the 1990s has been given a third life sentence for raping and sexually abusing a boy.’
BBC News, 11th May 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A judge has been criticised for ordering a rape victim to directly arrange childcare with an ex-husband who subjected her to rape and domestic abuse.’
The Independent, 11th May 2023
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Police are to formally review whether they should take indecent exposure more seriously amid emerging evidence that people who commit such crimes can escalate their offending, the Guardian has learned. It comes after it was revealed Wayne Couzens, the then-Metropolitan police officer who raped and murdered Sarah Everard, had committed a series of offences where he had exposed himself before the murder.’
The Guardian, 2nd May 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘”Deeper pockets” is not sufficient justification for extending vicarious liability “beyond its principled boundaries” the Supreme Court has found, as it ruled a congregation cannot be liable for a rape committed by one of its elders.’
Law Society's Gazette, 2nd May 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘In this appeal, the Supreme Court is asked to decide whether the Jehovah’s Witness organisation is vicariously liable for a rape committed by Mark Sewell, a former elder.’
UKSC Blog, 26th April 2023
Source: ukscblog.com
‘Mr and Mrs B began attending the religious services of the Barry Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1984. They made lots of friends in the congregation, among whom were Mark Sewell, his wife Mary and their children. Mark Sewell was an elder; however, he began drinking heavily and behaving inappropriately towards female members of the congregation, for example by kissing them on the lips when he greeted them. In 1990, he raped Mrs B after they had been out evangelising together and in 2014 he was convicted of her rape and of indecently assaulting two other people.’
Law & Religion UK, 26th April 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘Detectives are appealing for potential victims of a rapist taxi driver to come forward after he was jailed for 12 years for attacking two disabled women.’
BBC News, 20th April 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A woman who had a son after being raped has welcomed a change in the law to recognise children conceived through sexual attacks as victims.’
BBC News, 19th April 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Dominic Raab faces legal action over his refusal to trigger a public inquiry into the abuse of thousands of boys held in youth detention centres from the 1960s to 1980s’
The Independent, 16th April 2023
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A 70-year-old convicted rapist has been granted full access to the £7.2 million jackpot he won in the lottery following a 15-year legal battle.’
The Independent, 15th April 2023
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Rape victims who pre-record their evidence are more likely to have a better experience of the court process, findings published today (3 April 2023) reveal.’
Ministry of Justice, 3rd April 2023
Source: www.gov.uk
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