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
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
The DPP, Alison Saunders, has released an aide memoire on the issue of consent in sexual cases, for the use of prosecutors and investigators. The document only applied to consent under what many of us still find ourselves calling the “new law”, that is the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The SOA 2003 was a modernising … Continue reading
On 8 March 2015, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 was amended, making changes to the provisions dealing with behaviour orders to be imposed following complaint or conviction (etc.) for a sexual offence. The following orders were repealed: Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (ss.104-113) Risk of Sexual Harm Orders (123-129) Foreign Travel Orders (ss.114-122) These orders will … Continue reading
This blog post has been adapted from Felicity’s Huffington Post article, which can be viewed here. In the current debate over suspect anonymity, the fundamental importance of open justice is being overshadowed by the impact on individuals who have been the subject of salacious publicity. Most recently MP Mark Pritchard against whom allegations of rape … Continue reading
Earlier this month, the second edition of the Sexual Offences Handbook arrived from the printers – and we’re thrilled with it! To order your copy visit Wildy’s or Amazon. Contents The new edition covers all the law, practice and procedure on sexual offending in England and Wales since 1957; whether you have a complicated historical sexual … Continue reading
So ubiquitous has become the phrase ‘revenge porn’ that the Oxford English Dictionary’s next update will probably include it. This concept covers both the posting of previously private indecent images by a disgruntled ex-partner or by a malicious hacker. The combination of the camera phone and the internet provided the fertile ground for this rather … Continue reading
