Specialist court helps victims of domestic violence – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 27th, 2009 in domestic violence, news, victims by sally

“Justice Minister Bridget Prentice has met with specially-trained domestic violence legal advisers and magistrates at Grays Magistrates’ Court to congratulate them on their work helping the victims of domestic violence.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 27th August 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

New pledge to support young victims of crime – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 25th, 2009 in children, crime, news, victims by sally

“A pioneering government programme to support young victims of crime as well as helping them to keep themselves safe will be rolled out nationwide, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice announced today.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 24th August 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Tougher stance on domestic abuse – BBC News

Posted August 21st, 2009 in domestic violence, news, victims by sally

“Domestic violence victims will be able to get greater protection from courts in England and Wales from next month.”

Full story

BBC News, 21st August 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs back UK torture damages plan – BBC News

Posted August 11th, 2009 in news, state liability, torture, victims by sally

“Torture victims should be able to sue foreign governments in the UK courts, a committee of MPs and peers have said.”

Full story

BBC News, 10th August 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

One-stop courts to help women confront abuse – The Times

Posted August 10th, 2009 in domestic violence, news, victims, women by sally

“One-stop courts to help victims of domestic violence win legal redress are to be established across the country to encourage battered women to come forward and identify their abusers.”

Full story

The Times, 9th August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Justice claims ‘damaging’ victims – BBC News

Posted August 6th, 2009 in criminal justice, news, victims by sally

“Government claims that victims of crime are at the heart of the criminal justice system have raised ‘damaging’ expectations, says a report by MPs.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th August 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Disability hate crimes ‘unseen’ – BBC News

Posted July 6th, 2009 in disabled persons, hate crime, news, sentencing, victims, Wales by sally

“Hate crimes against people with disabilities in Wales are unreported or unrecognised for what they are, campaigners and charities say.”

Full story

BBC News, 6th July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rape victims face postcode lottery for justice – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 10th, 2009 in criminal justice, news, rape, victims by sally

“Rape victims face a postcode lottery in bringing their attackers to justice with victims in one area standing just a one in sixty chance.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th June 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Practice Direction (Criminal Proceedings: Victim Personal Statements; Pleas of Guilty in the Crown Court; Forms) – Times Law Reports

Posted May 19th, 2009 in criminal procedure, Crown Court, practice directions, victims by sally

Practice Direction (Criminal proceedings: Victim personal statements; Pleas of guilty in the crown court; forms)

“Amended provisions concerning the practice in criminal proceedings in relation to victim personal statements, pleas of guilty in the crown court and forms would come into force with immediate effect.”

The Times, May 19th 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Cab driver’s sex victims to sue – BBC News

Posted May 19th, 2009 in damages, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

“Victims of a taxi driver who sexually assaulted five female passengers in London and raped one are preparing a legal claim for damages against him.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th May 2009

Source: www.bb.co.uk

Practice Direction (Criminal Proceedings: Victim Personal Statements; Pleas of Guilty in the Crown Court; Forms) – WLR Daily

Posted May 18th, 2009 in criminal procedure, law reports, practice directions, victims by sally

Practice Direction (Criminal Proceedings: Victim Personal Statements; Pleas of Guilty in the Crown Court; Forms) [2009] WLR (D) 155

“Lord Judge CJ, sitting in the Supreme Court, handed down an amendment to Practice Direction (Criminal Proceedings: Consolidation) [2002] 1 WLR 2870, relating to victim personal statements, pleas of guilty in the Crown Court and forms.”

WLR Daily, 15th May 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Justice system a ‘sexist operation’, study finds – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2009 in criminal justice, news, sex discrimination, victims by sally

“The criminal justice system is ­condemned as an institutionally sexist operation that lets down female victims, fails to help women offenders out of a cycle of crime and prevents professionals reaching the top jobs.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police and prosecutors apologise to disabled victims of crime – The Guardian

Posted May 11th, 2009 in criminal justice, disabled persons, news, victims by sally

“Many disabled victims  of crime are being failed by the system, the Guardian has learned, following two cases in which the Crown Prosecution Service and the police were forced to apologise for not taking offences seriously enough.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government welcomes report highlighting major improvements for victims and witnesses – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 8th, 2009 in press releases, victims, witnesses by sally

“Over 80% of victims and witnesses are satisfied with their experience of the criminal justice system, an independent report published by the Criminal Justice inspectorates today, has highlighted.”

Full press release 

Ministry of Justice, 7th May 2009

Surde: www.justice.gov.uk

Review begins into cross-examination of rape victim, four – The Times

Posted May 5th, 2009 in children, cross-examination, news, rape, victims by sally

“An independent review is underway into how Haringey Social Services dealt with the case of a two-year-old girl raped by a man convicted over Baby P’s death.”

Full story

The Times, 2nd May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

New measures to support victims of sexual assault – Home Office

Posted April 15th, 2009 in news, rape, victims by sally

“New measures to improve the investigation and prosecution of rape and to provide support to victims were announced today by Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker.”

Full story

Home Office, 15th April 2009

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Revolution needed to put victims at heart of justice system – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 27th, 2009 in criminal justice, news, victims by sally

“Victims are not at the heart of the criminal justice system and it would take a ‘revolution’ to put them there, the country’s leading support group warns today.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th March 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Domestic violence: 18 new special courts announced – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 27th, 2009 in courts, domestic violence, news, victims by sally

“Victims of Domestic Violence will receive extra help and support from 18 new Specialist Domestic Violence Courts, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice announced today.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 26th March 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Regina (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions, Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening – Times Law Reports

Regina (B) v Director of Public Prosecutions, Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening

Queen’s Bench Division

“The decision to abandon a prosecution because of the victim’s mental instability was irrational and a violation of the victim’s right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment protected by article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

The Times, 24th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Legal threat to councils over rape victims – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2009 in local government, news, rape, victims by sally

“More than 100 councils will today be threatened with legal action over their failure to provide rape crisis centres and domestic violence support services, with a strongly worded warning issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk