CICA Attitude to Abuse Victims a disgrace

“Compensation has been reduced for more than 400 sex abuse victims in Britain who later committed criminal offences, the BBC has learnt.” was the headline:-

Sanchia Berg of the BBC made a Freedom of Information Request to the CICA who could not produce all the results she wanted, because she spoke to me before the story was published. She asked if ACAL(Association of Child Abuse Lawyers) had any statistics as to how many abuse cases are turned down because the applicant has committed criminal offences. Because in the past, we have had experience of a biased approach, we usually opt for the alternative civil system, and thus only have anecdotal opinions.

To read more see my blog on our Abuselaw Website

Sarah’s Law is not working says NSPCC report

Sarah Payne

“Children may be at risk of harm from sexual predators as very few police forces are making full use of Sarah’s Law” says the NSPCC in report released today.

Since it became possible in 2011 for adult custodians, who believe a child in their care is at risk, to find out if a named individual poses a risk from the police, only 1 in 6 requests have been granted, which means most applications are unsuccessful.

To read more see my blog on our Abuselaw Website

Why did the government cover up child abuse by Ministers and Members of Government?

The recent revelation of papers found in a box marked “Cabinet Secretary Miscellaneous Papers” which shows that there was a cover up of allegations of child abuse is not surprising to me, not only because I have been hearing anecdotal allegations against senior public figures since at least 1997

To read more see my blog on our Abuselaw Website

What will the opening of the Historic Child Abuse Inquiry achieve?

Almost a year to the day, the wide ranging Historical Child Abuse Inquiry has finally opened it's doors.  The hearing of evidence will take place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre (QEII) Centre, Westminster and be chaired by a New Zealand based Judge, Lowell Goddard. 

I consider what this inquiry will achieve, read my blog on www.abuselaw.co.uk.

I'm not surprised by the report into 'failings' by the police in child abuse investigations ..

The BBC have reported on a newly published report by the Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) which accuses the Police in England and Wales of failing to carry out effective investigations into allegations of child abuse and neglect. The report focuses on in excess of 500 cases across eight forces where there was an ‘inadequate’ response in 220 cases.

I appeared on the lunch time BBC news programme to discuss my thoughts.

To read the full article click here

Welcome news that Lord Janner will face charges of historic child abuse

Child abuse lawyer Peter Garsden has welcomed the decision of an independent QC who has overruled the original decision of Alison Saunders, the Director of Public Prosecutions, not to charge Lord Janner over claims of historical sex abuse because of his dementia.

 

To read Peter's comments click through to abuselaw.co.uk

 

 

Will Lord Janner stand trial or not?

As we await the decision on whether the independent QS tasked with the review on whether the decision of Alison Saunders (the Director of Public Prosecutions) not to charge Lord Janner with alleged child abuse crimes was the right decision to make, Peter Garsden looks at the possible outcomes.  Click here to read his views www.abuselaw.co.uk