As noted in the last blog posting, new allegations of old sexual misconduct continue to be made and the newest area is football. At the time of writing there are 350 potential victims, 98 clubs involved and 21 police forces investigating[1] with at least two defendants so far charged[2] and another 83 suspects.[3] Some of … Continue reading
It has started to feel as if no area of life is free from sexual exploitation: schools, children’s homes, hospitals and recently football clubs. Now it is the turn of the police to find the spotlight shone on them, by a report from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) which has highlighted cases where officers have … Continue reading
The Ched Evans case demonstrates the importance of rape trials. He was acquitted at a retrial of rape. The result has reignited debate about criminal justice for women. The well known allegations are that he was a footballer who went to hotel room he had booked after receiving a message that a colleague had “got … Continue reading
This blog has previously bemoaned the lack of education about consent. BBC Three this week tried to plug the gap with its programme “Is this Rape? Sex on Trial”. I watched with trepidation, but the result was much better than I expected. It allowed discussion by 24 young people who showed themselves to be thoughtful … Continue reading
As Gayle Newland is convicted of sexual assault[1] over her relationship with a female friend during which she pretended to be a man called Kye, the issue of gender and consent is back in the public eye. There are a lot of sensibilities touched upon by a case like Newland, but it is important to … Continue reading
Want to know the law on sexual offences since 1957? Click here On 9 July 2015, the Goddard Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse began. Justice Goddard gave an opening statement, setting out the principles of the independent inquiry. […] 2. The task ahead of us is daunting. The sexual abuse of children over successive generations has … Continue reading
This book review was first posted by Andrew Keogh on his Crimeline website on 1 May 2015. Publication of this updated text is timely given the rise in prosecutions for sexual offences and the heightened public scrutiny of the trial process. Practitioners in this field go to court ill equipped at their peril, and therefore need … Continue reading
