Category: sexual offences

Disclosure Decisions and Help-Seeking Experiences Amongst Victim-Survivors of Non-Consensual Intimate Image Distribution – Victims & Offenders

Posted March 20th, 2024 in disclosure, news, pornography, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘The non-consensual dissemination of intimate images (NCII) is a form of technology-facilitated, image-based sexual abuse. Despite causing significant harm, research indicates a reluctance to seek support. Thus, this study aimed to develop practitioner recommendations for improving support accessibility by exploring NCII victim-survivors’ disclosure decisions and experiences of accessing support. Thematic Analysis of 31 UK adult victim-survivor interviews revealed informal support was favored, although some did not disclose to anyone. Disclosure responses ranged from supportive to judgmental. Barriers to help-seeking included stigma and perceiving formal support services as inaccessible. Recommendations for improving formal support accessibility such as service visibility, education and inclusive practices are discussed.’

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Victims & Offenders, 18 March 2024

Source: www.tandfonline.com

How sex abusers who target their own children keep parental rights – and the mothers fighting back – The Independent

Posted March 18th, 2024 in bills, child abuse, children, criminal justice, families, news, parental rights, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A mother is desperate to change her child’s surname – so that they no longer share it with their criminal father. But Emily* is being blocked from doing so by her ex, despite the fact that he is a convicted child sex offender. Her predicament is not unique. Under English and Welsh law, child sex abusers are able to keep their parental rights in the UK, even if they target their own children. This allows them to retain influence over where the child lives, as well as their healthcare and education.’

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The Independent, 17th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rape and sexual harassment reported by foreign care workers across UK – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2024 in care workers, harassment, news, rape, sexual offences, visas by sally

‘Multiple cases of abuse and exploitation have been documented, but many staff feel “powerless to complain” for fear of losing the right to work in the country.’

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The Guardian, 12th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Crown Prosecution Service lawyers trivialise teen sexual abuse, report says – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2024 in child abuse, children, criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, mental health, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘Lawyers in the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales have trivialised teen sexual abuse, are “obsessed” about the credibility of rape victims and used victim-blaming language, according to a critical official examination into how the service deals with serious sexual crimes.’

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The Guardian, 11th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Years of delays to rape trials a ‘significant injustice’, says judge – The Guardian

Posted March 6th, 2024 in criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, news, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘More than 180 alleged rape victims in England and Wales have faced more than two years of delays since their case first went to court, with a senior judge announcing plans to clear the “serious stain” on the justice system by the end of July.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Devastating report lays bare police failings over Sarah Everard’s killer – The Guardian

Posted March 1st, 2024 in abuse of position of trust, indecent exposure, murder, news, police, rape, reports, sexual offences by sally

‘The full extent of Wayne Couzens’ alleged offending was laid bare in a devastating official report that revealed accusations of serial sexual abuse including rapes, before he used his status as a police officer to kidnap and murder Sarah Everard.’

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The Guardian, 29th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Father of Brianna Ghey killer Eddie Ratcliffe jailed for sex offences – The Guardian

Posted March 1st, 2024 in child abuse, children, families, imprisonment, indecent exposure, indecent photographs of children, murder, news, sentencing, sexual offences, transgender persons by sally

‘The father of one of Brianna Ghey’s killers has been sentenced to 15 months after pleading guilty to indecent exposure and taking an indecent image of a child.’

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The Guardian, 29th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fresh investigation launched into one of UK’s biggest abuse scandals – The Guardian

Posted February 29th, 2024 in assault, news, ombudsmen, prison officers, prisons, sexual offences, young offenders by sally

‘Investigators looking into one of the UK’s biggest abuse scandals have said they hope to find answers into how it was allowed to happen and provide “some level of closure” for the victims.’

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The Guardian, 28th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Snapchat rape: Plea to other possible victims after man jailed – BBC News

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in child abuse, children, imprisonment, internet, news, police, sentencing, sexual offences, victims by michael

‘More potential victims have been urged to come forward after a man was jailed for raping a girl he met on Snapchat.’

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BBC News, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Appeal judges reject attempts to blame lawyers for convictions – Legal Futures

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in appeals, assault, guilty pleas, harassment, legal representation, litigants in person, news, rape, sexual offences, time limits by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has rejected two separate attempts by convicted criminals to blame poor performance by lawyers for their convictions.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Teachers in England could face ban for failing to report evidence of sexual abuse of children – The Guardian

Posted February 21st, 2024 in child abuse, children, disciplinary procedures, government departments, imprisonment, inquiries, news, professional conduct, school children, sexual offences, teachers by sally

‘Teachers in England face being banned if they fail to report evidence of children being subjected to sexual abuse under plans for new legislation announced by the home secretary, James Cleverly.’

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The Guardian, 21st February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tougher sentences for ‘rough sex’ killers – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 19th, 2024 in bills, criminal justice, domestic violence, homicide, imprisonment, Ministry of Justice, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘Cowards who kill their partners with sexual violence will face longer behind bars as the government continues to clamp down on domestic abuse against women.’

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Ministry of Justice, 14th February 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

David Carrick: Rapist PC stripped of full state-funded pension – BBC News

Posted February 19th, 2024 in abuse of position of trust, forfeiture, news, pensions, police, professional conduct, rape, sexual offences by sally

‘Rapist police officer David Carrick has been stripped of his full state-funded pension, the mayor of London has confirmed.’

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BBC News, 18th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Toxic’ online culture fuelling rise in sexual assaults on children by other children, police warn – The Guardian

Posted February 19th, 2024 in child abuse, children, internet, news, pornography, rape, sexual offences, statistics, young offenders by sally

‘An alarming rise in sexual assaults on children by other children is being fuelled by access to a “toxic” online culture, Britain’s most senior child protection officer has warned, as an Observer investigation revealed a sharp increase in abuse by under-18s reported to police.’

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The Guardian, 17th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Triangulation and flexibility: taking capacity seriously in changing circumstances – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

Posted February 14th, 2024 in Court of Protection, disabled persons, expert witnesses, learning difficulties, local government, news, pregnancy, sexual offences by sally

‘Re DY [2024] EWCOP 4 is a case showing how demanding taking capacity seriously is – and should be. It concerned a young woman, whom the court had previously found to lack capacity in to make decisions about residence, care and contact, but to have capacity to make decisions about engaging in sexual relations, in face of strenuous arguments to the contrary from the local authority. Injunctive orders were then made against the woman’s former foster carer, suspected of sexually abusing DY; at a subsequent hearing, the court made a final order that DY had the capacity to make decisions relating to her use of contraception, having accepted a report from DY’s GP.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 11th February 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Ex-Scout leader from Ipswich sentenced over secret filming – BBC News

Posted February 14th, 2024 in abuse of position of trust, child abuse, children, imprisonment, indecent photographs of children, news, sentencing, sexual offences, voyeurism by sally

‘A former Scout leader has been jailed for 20 months for voyeurism and making indecent images of children.’

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BBC News, 13th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

First person in England and Wales convicted of cyberflashing – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2024 in indecent exposure, internet, news, sexual offences by sally

‘A 39-year-old man has become the first person in England and Wales to be convicted of cyberflashing, which became an offence in January as part of the Online Safety Act.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police failed to investigate officer abuse complaints, say women – BBC News

Posted February 13th, 2024 in coercive & controlling behaviour, complaints, domestic violence, news, police, sexual offences by sally

‘Seven women are accusing Devon and Cornwall Police of failing to investigate serving and former officers for domestic abuse and sexual violence.’

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BBC News, 12th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

One in nine child victims blamed by Met for their own abuse, watchdog finds – The Independent

Posted February 9th, 2024 in child abuse, child neglect, children, missing persons, news, police, sexual grooming, sexual offences, victims by michael

‘Vulnerable children – who were often victims of abuse, neglect or sexual exploitation – were described as “making poor choices” in concerning language used by Metropolitan Police officers, according to damning report from the police watchdog, which also concluded that 12 in every 100 children were in some way blamed for their abuse.’

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The Independent, 9th February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police forced to run background checks on sex abuse suspects or face sack under proposed ‘Gaia’s Law’ – The Independent

Posted February 2nd, 2024 in criminal records, murder, news, police, professional conduct, rape, recidivists, sexual offences by sally

‘Police officers who fail to run background checks on sex offence suspects will face being fired under new measures proposed to parliament to crackdown on sexual predators.’

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The Independent, 1st February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk