Victims of crime get chance to speak in court under new code – BBC News

Posted October 29th, 2013 in codes of practice, news, victims by sally

“Victims of crime in England and Wales are to be given a greater opportunity to speak in courts.”

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BBC News, 29th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rape victims ‘not being taken seriously’ as prosecutions fall to five-year low – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2013 in complaints, Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions, rape, statistics, victims by sally

“Fall in number of rape cases police refer to prosecutors raises fears under-pressure officers are ‘cutting corners’ and not taking victims seriously”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Institutions still not safe from child sex abusers – National Crime Agency

Posted October 24th, 2013 in child abuse, news, reports, sexual offences, victims by sally

“Organisations are at risk of being ‘complacent’ about tackling abuse because of a tendency to concentrate on historic cases, the new law enforcement agency has concluded in its first major report.”

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National Crime Agency, 24th October 2013

Source: www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk

Sarjantson and another v Chief Constable of Humberside Police – WLR Daily

Sarjantson and another v Chief Constable of Humberside Police: [2013] EWCA Civ 1252;   [2013] WLR (D)  393

“The positive duty on the state (the police) to avert a real and immediate risk to life or injury, pursuant to articles 2 and 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, was not limited to identified or identifiable persons. It was sufficient that such potential victims were known or should be known to exist; and it made no difference that the risk arose during an incident which had already commenced.”

WLR Daily, 18th October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Could new guidelines have stopped Savile? – BBC News

Posted October 17th, 2013 in crime prevention, Crown Prosecution Service, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

“The Crown Prosecution Service has published detailed guidance on how to handle sex abuse allegations. It comes down to is a simple shift in thinking that can make a profound difference: Trust, rather than doubt, what the victim is saying.”

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BBC News, 17th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DPP issues tough new guidelines for child sex cases aimed at ensuring more convictions, reveals Keir Starmer – The Independent

“New guidelines for dealing with child sex abuse cases published today will mark ‘the most fundamental attitude shift’ in the criminal justice system in a generation, the Director of Public Prosecutions has claimed.”

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The Independent, 17th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Most gay hate crimes go unreported, Stonewall survey finds – The Independent

“More than three-quarters of gay, bisexual and lesbian victims of hate crime did not report it to the police, a survey found.”

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The Independent, 15th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service admits misleading public over complaints – The Guardian

“The Crown Prosecution Service has admitted publishing misleading records of complaints made about its performance.”

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The Guardian, 15th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal compensation reforms would shift burden of proof on to victims – The Guardian

“Victims of miscarriages of justice will have to prove their innocence in future or endure damaged reputations, human rights groups and Labour’s parliamentary frontbench are warning.”

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The Guardian, 14th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sexual offences: Wrong questions asked of victims, says Keir Starmer – BBC News

“Victims of sexual offences have been afraid of reporting them because police have asked ‘the wrong questions’, the director of public prosecutions for England and Wales has said.”

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BBC News, 13th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

South Yorkshire sex abusers not to face extra charges – BBC News

“Two men who pleaded guilty to more than 50 ‘appalling’ child sex offences will not face trial over 14 other allegations, prosecutors have said.”

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BBC News, 14th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Human Rights Act must stay, says CPS director Keir Starmer – The Independent

“Repealing the Human Rights Act would be ‘retrograde step’ that would hurt the victims of crime and witnesses alike, the outgoing director of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has warned.”

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The Independent, 13th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Victim suing police for taking too long to arrive – Daily Telegraph

“A crime victim who was beaten almost to death by a baseball bat-wielding gang of thugs is fighting a landmark battle for compensation from Humberside police.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Newspapers’ plans for post-Leveson press regulation rejected – The Guardian

Posted October 8th, 2013 in charters, constitutional reform, media, news, Privy Council, victims by sally

“Plans on how to regulate the press industry have been delayed until later this month after a difficult meeting of the key players rejected the regulatory plans proposed by the industry but also could not agree whether to back the royal charter passed by parliament.”

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The Guardian, 7th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

An Animals’ Ombudswoman – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

Posted October 7th, 2013 in animal cruelty, animals, news, ombudsmen, victims, vivisection by sally

“Noël Sweeney calls for a watchdog for the underdog.”

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Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 4th October 2013

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

Child sexual abuse victims are being failed by courts, says NSPCC – The Guardian

“Children giving evidence in court in sexual abuse cases need to be given more support because many suffer from stress before a trial, the NSPCC has said.”

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The Guardian, 5th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Domestic abuse victims should have right to keep address secret, say campaigners – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 7th, 2013 in children, debts, disclosure, domestic violence, news, privacy, victims by sally

“A woman is calling for new laws to allow victims of domestic violence to withhold their addresses in court to protect them and their children.”

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Daily Telegraph, 6th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Crime victims with mental illness ignored, research suggests – BBC News

“People with mental illnesses are three times more likely to be victims of crime than the general population, new research suggests.”

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BBC News, 7th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Instant Justice – BBC Unreliable Evidence

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in cautions, crime, news, penalties, police, victims by sally

“The widespread use of on-the-spot fines, fixed penalties, cautions and other ‘out of court disposals’ has raised concerns that the criminal justice system is being undermined.”

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BBC Unreliable Evidence, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mesothelioma charities clash with Ministry of Justice over Grant ‘pledge’ – Litigation Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in asbestos, charities, compensation, news, victims by sally

“The government has played down claims by charities supporting asbestos victims that minister Helen Grant agreed not to introduce changes to the compensation regime that they did not support.”

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Litigation Futures, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com