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News Archives: Index

October 7, 2010: Probation Set For Industrial Action

October 5, 2010: Turning Prisoners Into Taxpayers

October 4, 2010: Murder Changes Now In Force

September 20, 2010: Probation Programmes Face Cuts

August 24, 2010: Victorian Poor Law Records Online

August 10, 2010: Justice Job Cuts

July 28, 2010: Prison Violence Growing

July 22, 2010: Police Numbers: Latest Figures

July 22, 2010: New Jurisdiction Rules

July 16, 2010: CCJS On Prison And Probation Spending Under Labour

July 15, 2010: Latest Statistics On Violent And Sexual Crime

July 15, 2010: Latest National Crime Figures

July 15, 2010: New Chief Prisons Inspector

July 14, 2010: Hard Times Ahead For Prisons: Anne Owers

July 14, 2010: Prison Does Not Work: Ken Clarke

July 13, 2010: Criminal Justice Reform: Sentencing and Rehabilitation

July 13, 2010: Criminal Justice Reform Priorities

July 12, 2010: What Price Public Protection, Asks Probation Chief Inspector

July 12, 2010: NOMS has failed, says Napo

July 10, 2010: IPCC To Investigate Death of Raoul Moat

July 9, 2010: Women In Prison: New Report

July 9, 2009: Unjust Deserts: Imprisonment for Public Protection

July 8, 2010: Police Search Powers Change

July 7, 2010: Make 'Legal High' Illegal, Says ACMD

July 2, 2010: Failing Children In Prison

July 2, 2010: Police Buried Under a Blizzard of Guidance: HMIC

July 1, 2010: Freedom To Change The Law?

June 30, 2010: A New Outlook On Penal Reform?

June 30, 2010: Revolving Door Of Offending Must Stop, Says Clarke

June 30, 2010: Ken Clarke: Speech on Criminal Justice Reform

June 29, 2010: No More Police Targets

June 26, 2010: Family Intervention Projects Questioned

June 25, 2010: Cutting Criminal Justice

June 24, 2010: Napo on Sex Offenders Report

June 23, 2010: Closing Courts: The Cuts Begin

June 23, 2010: Strategy To Tackle Gangs

June 15, 2010: Courts and Mentally Disordered Offenders

June 8, 2010: Working With Muslims in Prison

June 1, 2010: Your Chance To Nominate a QC

February 3, 2005: Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence

A new legal handbook for victims of sexual violence has just been launched. ‘From Report to Court – A Handbook for Adult Survivors of Sexual Violence’ offers a comprehensive source of help and advice to victims from the perspective of the victim.

Rights of Women, a not-for-profit organisation working to “inform, educate and empower women on the law and their legal rights���, and Cathy Halloran from London Metropolitan University's Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit have worked together to produce the handbook. The handbook, a copy of which is available from Rights of Women website, brings together information and advice on the process of reporting and prosecuting sexual violence.

The Home Office funded production of the handbook, which offers a unique source of information written from the victims’ perspective. Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland set out the key steps the Government has taken to improve support and services for victims.

The new Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act puts victims at the heart of the criminal justice system and will ensure more offenders pay towards supporting victims. It provides for a statutory Victims’ Code of Practice and a new Commissioner for Victims who will have a key role in championing victims’ rights across all services.

The Government is supporting the development of services in the community as well as Sexual Assault Referral Centres. There are now 13 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across England and Wales. SARCs provide immediate medical care and counselling for victims of serious sexual assault and, if the victim chooses, an opportunity to assist the Police investigation into alleged offences. The Home Office will shortly publish a booklet about sexual abuse and the law for people with a learning disability and those under 16 years old with a learning disability.

Baroness Scotland said:

“Sexual violence is a horrific crime which causes great distress and has long lasting effects. I welcome the launch of this handbook, which is written from the unique perspective of victims of sexual violence, and gives survivors of sexual violence a user friendly comprehensive source of advice and support. I would like to thank the voluntary and community sector groups who play a huge role in improving support for victims, for the considerable amount work they have put into making the handbook a reality. I also hope this handbook will help raise awareness of the issues affecting victims of sexual violence.

We are also developing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) which are widely recognised as the way forward for provision of acute services to victims of rape and sexual assault. However, we know that not all victims choose to go to a SARC and most are not designed to address the longer-term needs of victims of sexual violence, and that is why the Government is also supporting the development of alternative but complimentary services in the community.”

Rights of Women Director  Ranjit Kaur said:

"Rights of Women are pleased to be launching this handbook as part of its broader campaign to combat sexual violence, as well as educating and informing women about their legal rights and remedies. We believe this handbook will provide essential information to women who have experienced sexual violence about what they can expect from law enforcement and government agencies.”