Major overhaul of family courts to protect domestic abuse victims – Family Law

Posted July 2nd, 2020 in domestic violence, family courts, news, victims by sally

‘The government has announced an overhaul of how the Family Court deals with domestic abuse to provide greater protection to survivors of domestic abuse.’

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Family Law, 1st July 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Police in England and Wales taking ‘excessive personal data’ from mobile phones – The Guardian

‘Police are extracting “excessive amounts of personal data” from the mobile phones of victims and witnesses during investigations and are in danger of discouraging the public from reporting crime, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has warned.’

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The Guardian, 18th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police in England and Wales dropping rape inquiries when victims refuse to hand in phones – The Guardian

‘Rape investigations are being systematically dropped after victims refuse to hand over their mobile phones for analysis, an investigation has found.’

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The Guardian, 17th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2020] EWHC 1415 (QB): A glimmer of hope for secondary victims? – St Philips Chambers

‘The law relating to secondary victims, who suffer psychiatric injury as a result of witnessing a shocking event, has long been an area of contention.’

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St Philips Chambers, 8th June 2020

Source: st-philips.com

Survivors of Manchester Arena bombing in legal action to secure core participant status at public inquiry – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 16th, 2020 in explosives, inquiries, news, terrorism, victims by sally

‘Survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing are taking legal action to try to secure core participant status at the public inquiry into the atrocity.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th June 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Compensation for woman after rape trials collapse over police failings – BBC News

Posted June 11th, 2020 in child abuse, compensation, news, police, prosecutions, rape, victims by sally

‘A woman who police believe was sexually abused by a gang from the age of 12 has been paid a five-figure compensation sum after three trials collapsed following police failings.’

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BBC News, 11th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Manchester Arena attack inquiry: Survivors take legal action – BBC News

Posted June 10th, 2020 in inquiries, murder, news, terrorism, victims by sally

‘Survivors of the Manchester Arena attack are taking legal action after losing their bid to be represented at the public inquiry into the bombing.’

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BBC News, 9th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Justice Secretary seeks to block decision to release rapist serving life sentence – Daily Telegraph

‘The Justice Secretary is seeking to block the decision to release a rapist serving a life sentence from prison, after the victim’s family only learned of the plans through a journalist.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th June 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Rough sex’ defence led to over 60 victims having to deny giving consent, finds research – The Guardian

Posted June 4th, 2020 in assault, consent, defences, news, prosecutions, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘More than 60 victims have been forced to go to court over the past decade to deny that they consented to strangulation, assaults or violence, according to the campaign to end reliance on the “rough sex” defence.’

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The Guardian, 3rd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sally Challen can inherit controlling husband’s estate, rules judge – The Guardian

‘A woman who won an appeal over her conviction for murdering her controlling husband can inherit his estate, a judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 27th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lewes sex abuser Jonathan Smith’s victim feels hope after his jailing – BBC News

‘A woman who was systematically abused as a child by a world-renowned music director has gone from “despair to hope” after seeing him finally jailed.’

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BBC News, 22nd May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rotherham child sex abuse inquiry ‘to continue for years’ – BBC News

Posted May 21st, 2020 in child abuse, inquiries, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A major inquiry into historic child sex abuse in Rotherham is set to continue for up to seven years with around 600 victims still to be spoken to.’

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BBC News, 20th May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

ABE 2016/19 has gone AWOL – Counsel

‘Shortcomings and legal anachronisms: how can we achieve best evidence if current guidance is dangerously out of date on the law on special measures? asks Laura Hoyano.’

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Counsel, May 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Inconsistent sentencing of Defendants in cases where sexual activity against children does not actually take place – Park Square Barristers

‘This comment focuses upon two recent Court of Appeal judgments:

R v Privett [2020] EWCA Crim 557 (“Privett”); and R v Manning [2020] EWCA Crim 592 (“Manning”).’

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Park Square Barristers, 12th May 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Sentencing Sexual Cases with a Fake Victim – Broadway House Chambers

‘There has been something of an explosion in the number of sexual offences cases coming to the Crown Court where there is no actual victim. Offenders are caught by so-called paedophile hunters or police officers going online and posing as children.’

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Broadway House Chambers, 11th May 2020

Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk

Yousef Makki death: inquiry into Greater Manchester police dropped – The Guardian

‘A watchdog has dropped its misconduct investigation into Greater Manchester police’s handling of a case involving the death of a schoolboy in Cheshire.’

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The Guardian, 30th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

At the front line of Covid-19 – forgotten victims? – Doughty Street Chambers

‘In a sense, we are all “victims” of the 2020-1 Coronavirus pandemic. Our lives have been changed dramatically by its effects at the domestic, community, regional, national and international levels. None of us born since WWII have experienced the restrictions of movement/activity we are experiencing as “lockdown”. There are serious wellbeing issues associated with being confined to the home for the majority of time, and no doubt those suffering domestic strain, let alone abuse, are truly “suffering”. One thinks also of those self-denying or being denied access to treatment for other health conditions because of the necessary concentration of health resources upon Covid-19 patients. All of this without considering the serious economic effects of deprivation of income for many people who really cannot afford any reduction in their already stretched incomes.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 22nd April 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Coronavirus: Shop workers should be trained to help abuse victims – BBC News

Posted April 16th, 2020 in coronavirus, domestic violence, families, homicide, news, statistics, victims by sally

‘Supermarket workers should be trained to identify and help domestic abuse victims during the pandemic through a code word system, MPs have been told.’

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BBC News, 15th April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prosecuting Domestic Violence – New Law Journal

‘On Saturday 15 February, Caroline Flack’s tragic death became widespread news across the country. Having been charged with common assault of her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, she pleaded not guilty on 23 December last year and was due to face trial on 4 March. On the same day that she took her life, a statement from Ms Flack’s management strongly criticised the Crown Prosecution Servce (CPS) for pursuing the case, citing its knowledge of her vulnerability and the lack of support from the alleged victim.’

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New Law Journal, 26th March 2020

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Serious sexual offences involving Medical professionals: Catherine Silverton shares 18 years’ of trial experience – Park Square Barristers

‘Sexual allegations can be distinguished from criminal allegations of other types by virtue of often being prosecuted purely on the basis of one person’s word. There are invariably no witnesses to the interaction between the Complainant and Defendant during which the alleged offence is said to have been committed. There is very rarely any physical or scientific evidence capable of proving or refuting the allegation. No circumstantial evidence. No technological evidence. Sexual allegations are increasingly made weeks, months or even years after the alleged event, by which time delay has frayed memories on all sides which leaves nothing but word against word.’

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Park Square Barristers, 7th April 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk