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
News of concern over child abuse on the dark net came within a month of the children’s entertainer and artist Rolf Harris being convicted and sentenced for historic indecent assaults on more than one complainant. The full sentencing remarks are here. Other counts for making indecent images of children were separated and then not pursued. News reports … Continue reading
Sexual Offences Act 2003 s 104 Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (imposed post-conviction) are designed to protect the public from serious sexual harm occasioned by the offender. It is now relatively well settled as to what ‘serious sexual harm’ and ‘protecting the public’ mean. Appeals founded on the grounds that the judge was wrong to determine … Continue reading
