Latest news with #victimadvocacy
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Victim impact statements: Campaigners want voices heard in court
Campaigners for victims of crime in Northern Ireland want to see urgent changes to how victim impact statements are handled in Ireland and Scotland are the only parts of the UK and Ireland where victims do not have the right to read their own statements in in a case in Newry in March, the foster mother of a child left profoundly disabled after an assault was permitted to read her own statement to the court - believed to be a legal first for Northern Boyle, who was raped by her father as a teenager, and finally saw justice 30 years later, did not get the opportunity to address the court in her case and wants to see change for other victims. During courting hearings in Northern Ireland, victims are not routinely given the chance to speak about how a crime has affected them. But documents, known as Victim Personal Statements (VPS), can be submitted to a judge after a defendant has been found guilty. These can help judges make informed decisions on sentencing. Rape victim says she 'wasn't being heard' Ms Boyle said she is angry she did not get the chance to speak in court and that the VPS would have given her a voice."With that victim impact statement that was the most important thing for me - to be allowed to have my voice, to be allowed to say what he had done to me, how he had destroyed my life. "I wasn't being listening to, and I wasn't being heard. There's no closure for me, I'm still in that courtroom, waiting," Ms Boyle said. "It would have been a bit of empowerment for me to be able to say to him: 'You raped me. You were meant to protect me, but you didn't protect me, you raped me'."Victims are crying out and have been for a very long time to be able to read these statements, for us to be heard. "Let the victims read their statements, it's going to be the most powerful thing." 'Discretion of the judge' In a statement to the BBC, the Lady Chief Justice's office said: "The opportunity to have the statement read out in court is not currently mandatory in Northern Ireland, and the legislation does not prescribe the manner in which a VPS may be read in court or by whom."The office added: "Any decision for a victim to read their statement in court would be at the discretion of the judge."In a separate statement the Department of Justice said Justice Minister Naomi Long is "supportive of measures which can help victims on their journey to recovery, such as allowing victims to read a VPS in court". The department added it has "convened a working group to consider changes" but added that such a scheme "would require judicial consideration on a case-by-case basis". 'Victims feel they're being silenced' The interim Victims of Crime Commissioner, Geraldine Hanna, said there is a cathartic release for victims of crime when they are given the opportunity to address the court themselves."Victims feel that they're being silenced, they've put a lot of effort, thought and energy into writing their statement, and they want to read it out," she said. "They want to tell the judge and the court the impact it's had, and for many, they want to tell the offender the impact that this has had on them. So not being given that opportunity removes that."The fact that we've seen this happen in a case means that I'm not sure that we necessarily need new legislation. "I think the legislation might help put the belt and braces on, but in the interim, from now, I want to see it consistently being offered. "If we can do it in one case then, I would question why we can't be offered it now."Many high-profile cases in other parts of the UK have featured the use of these statements, including the trial of Kyle Clifford, who murdered his ex girlfriend with a crossbow, also killing her mother and and husband John Hunt read his statement at Clifford's sentencing for the triple murder, reducing a packed courtroom to tears.
CTV News
09-07-2025
- CTV News
Suspect arrested after women intervene in Vancouver transit bus assault
A suspect has been arrested after a woman was reportedly groped on a transit bus in Vancouver, police say. The assault was reported shortly after 8 a.m. on June 9, when a woman on a crowded 99-B Line bus travelling on West Broadway was grabbed from behind, the Metro Vancouver Transit Police said in a news release Wednesday. The suspect, who was not known to the woman, reportedly boarded the bus and stood directly behind her. Police say the man then 'made inappropriate sexual contact' with her while the bus was in motion. 'Two female bystanders on board the bus witnessed the alleged assault and confronted the suspect, who fled the bus on foot,' Sgt. Dustin Szakacs said in the release. Investigators identified and arrested the suspect, and have recommended one charge of sexual assault to Crown prosecutors. The man was released from police custody with several conditions, including a ban from using Vancouver transit buses, pending a scheduled court appearance, police said. 'While we would never ask anyone to put themselves in harm's way, we wish to commend the actions of the two women who immediately came to the victim's aid and contacted police,' Szakacs said. 'Thanks to their assistance, we were able to make an arrest and hold the suspect accountable for his actions.'
CBC
08-07-2025
- CBC
Family, support groups seek better protection for domestic violence victims after B.C. woman killed
Social Sharing The family of a woman killed in Kelowna, B.C., on Friday is calling for more to be done to address domestic violence in the province. Bailey Plover was killed in what Kelowna RCMP called a "highly visible and tragic event" on Friday at a parking lot on Enterprise Way, in an attack that also saw another woman hospitalized. Kelowna RCMP say James Edward Plover was arrested after a brief pursuit by officers who responded to reports of a "motor vehicle incident" and an alleged assault with a weapon involving two female victims known to the suspect. Bailey Plover succumbed to her injuries after the attack, and her uncle, Morey Maslak, said there was a pattern of domestic violence between Bailey and James. "This is not an uncommon story, [it's] played out countless times, you know?" he told CBC News. "There's, you know, clearly some shortcomings in the judicial system that we need to try to address as a community." Online court records show Plover was charged with uttering threats and assault by choking last year, but the charges were stayed, in a case that was identified as concerning intimate partner violence. He and the victim were involved in family law litigation, and also faced foreclosure proceedings launched by two separate banks. Maslak said he had known Bailey since she was a young girl, and described her as a loving and devoted mother and a funny and charismatic young lady. She has two children. "The kids are surrounded by loved ones, and our focus right now is to, you know, provide some stability and have them around family," he said. Mounties said on Saturday that the second victim in the attack is still in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Kelowna RCMP say a charge of second-degree murder in relation to the attack was approved by the B.C. Prosecution Service on Saturday. James Plover is due in court on July 10. Advocate calls for concrete action The killing of Plover comes a little under two weeks after an independent report commissioned by the province found gender-based violence has been "normalized" in B.C. Lawyer Kim Stanton's report found that around 48 per cent of women in B.C. over the age of 15 had experienced intimate partner violence. According to the report, 94 per cent of sexual assaults and 80 per cent of intimate partner violence are not reported to police. "This isn't a series of isolated tragedies. Definitely not," said Angela Marie MacDougall, the executive director of Battered Women's Support Services, on Monday. "Rather, this is a systemic failure and it is a public safety crisis." WATCH | Gender-based violence declared an epidemic: B.C.'s declaration of gender-based violence as an epidemic welcomed 6 months ago Duration 2:27 B.C. Premier David Eby's mandate letter to the province's finance minister tasks her with working to address a "national epidemic" of gender-based violence. Janella Hamilton spoke to support workers who have pushed for the move, who say violence against women is a public safety crisis. MacDougall noted that B.C. Premier David Eby had declared gender-based violence an epidemic in January, but said the province had not acted decisively in response to that declaration. She added that the legal system was effectively "decriminalizing this kind of violence" by not charging perpetrators with crimes. "This case, the Kelowna case, is really concerning for a bunch of reasons — not only because of how highly visible it was and that there's a woman dead, but the accused allegedly has been charged with serious violence, including choking," MacDougall said. "Those charges were stayed. And we know, from a risk assessment point of view, that that kind of violence is a precursor to femicide. This is well established." At an unrelated news conference on Monday, Eby said that his government had received the Stanton report and would work with the author on the report's various recommendations. "We've been pressing the federal government aggressively to improve our bail system, to make sure that violent offenders are kept behind bars ... to ensure that intimate partner violence, violence against women in relationships specifically, was named as an area for bail reform," he said. "[This is a] tragic, timely reminder of the importance of that work, and we hope the federal government works very quickly to get that in place."
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Effingham man accused of human trafficking after pastor, others help victim escape
EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — Effingham Police are highlighting the 'courage and vigilance' of community members, particularly a pastor, in rescuing a girl from years of suspected human trafficking and sexual abuse. The man accused of these crimes is under arrest. Officials said in a news release that Juan Alberto Cruz Ceba, 41, was arrested on Monday during a 'coordinated detail' in the area of 4th Street and Washington Avenue. He is facing multiple charges that include involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, human trafficking and criminal sexual assault. Former GCMS teacher extradited to Ford Co., denied pretrial release in sexual abuse case The investigation started on June 8, when officials said the Effingham Police Department took a report from a female juvenile. She revealed that she was a victim of domestic battery, sexual assaults and involuntary confinement. 'A trusted third party who is the pastor of a local church brought the juvenile to the police department to make the report,' officials said. 'The pastor had previously attended an informational meeting for community leaders on how to be an advocate for victims, which was led by Effingham Police officers.' After the initial report, the victim received immediate medical attention and was given protective assistance from child-victim crisis professionals. Officials said the investigation revealed that the girl was the victim of ongoing sexual exploitation and abuse by Cruz Ceba that started years earlier in a different location. At this time, police believe this is an isolated incident, with no other suspects and no other victims discovered. UPDATE: Guardian located after child found alone at Hessel Park in Champaign Cruz Ceba was arrested without incident on Monday and was booked into the Effingham County Jail on the following charges: Involuntary Sexual Servitude of a Minor, a Class X Felony Trafficking in Persons – Involuntary Sexual Servitude of a Minor, a Class 1 Felony Criminal Sexual Assault, a Class 1 Felony Aggravated Domestic Battery, a Class 2 Felony Interfering with the Reporting of Domestic Battery, a Class A Misdemeanor Cruz Ceba will appear in court for the first time on Wednesday to determine whether he will remain in custody under the Pretrial Fairness Act. 'The successful rescue of this young victim is a direct result of the courage and vigilance of community members who spoke up, and the dedication of our officers who acted swiftly,' said Effingham Police Chief Jason McFarland. 'This collaboration between multiple concerned residents and our dedicated officers made all the difference in bringing this young victim to safety. This case reminds us all that when our community and law enforcement work together, we can bring hope and healing to even the darkest of situations.' The investigation into this case is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
My Rotherham grooming gang rapist was offered access to our son from jail… it felt like his rights were put before mine
SHE was viciously raped and beaten hundreds of times, forced to have an abortion and used 'like a sex doll' from the age of just 14. Grooming gang victim Sammy Woodhouse gave birth to her rapist's baby - yet even when her abuser was behind bars her ordeal wasn't over. 4 4 The 39-year-old mum, targeted in Rotherham, South Yorks, had a child at 15 following sexual and physical abuse by gang ringleader Arshid Hussain. She said she had to face a further 'nightmare' when she was told the convicted paedophile could apply for parental rights over her son, despite serving a 35-year prison sentence. After being repeatedly abused from the age of 14, Sammy has tirelessly campaigned for victims. She welcomes the newly announced national inquiry but called Sir Keir Starmer 'vile' for initially opposing it, then finally making a humiliating U-turn last week as he travelled to the G7 conference in Canada. Sammy told The Sun on Sunday: 'I support a national inquiry as long as it will bring real change. They're saying it could take three years, but I'd wait a lifetime if it's effective. 'As well as holding people to account — including those in positions of power at the council, police and social services — I'm hoping it will address the issue of children born to perpetrators. 'Almost laughable' 'I haven't seen anything yet about abusers losing parental rights to children conceived as a result of rape, and that is something I have been campaigning for since 2018. 'Surely it's just common sense that they should be stripped of having access to their kids born as a result of grooming?' She said of her own son, born as a result of rape: 'Rotherham Council invited his father to apply for parental rights over my child without informing me, even though it was proven in court that he was a danger to myself and other children. 'It was another nightmare I had to live through. He'd had no involvement with my son, was in prison for the abuse I suffered, and wasn't even on the birth certificate. 'But I was told that the council had reached out to him — he hadn't even requested access himself — because human rights laws meant he had a right to family life. 'It's almost laughable. What about my rights, my son's rights?' Sammy's campaign to change the law has been backed by politicians including Rotherham MP Sarah Champion and former shadow policing minister Louise Haigh. Ms Champion said ministers could sign off new guidance making it clear that any rapist, abuser, or anyone who is a risk to a child does not have the right to comment on their future, adding: 'They could do that today but they don't. 'They sort of shove it out to councils to make their interpretations.' As it stands, the law allows a father to apply through courts for access or visitation rights to his children. That means he could have a say over his child's education, healthcare and where they can live. The victim and their children would have to attend court and could be cross-examined — having to relive the trauma all over again. A law introduced last year means perpetrators will automatically have parental responsibility stripped, but it applies only to those who have raped a victim aged under 13. It also applies only when someone has abused their own child or stepchild. CHANGE TO LAW IS VITAL By Natalie Fleet, Labour MP, Bolsover ONE in four of us has been raped or sexually assaulted, yet barely anyone is speaking about it. My rape was statutory rape, I was 15 and he was an older man. I have my birth certificate, my daughters, and a DNA test that proves it. Most women don't have that kind of proof a rape has been committed. That's why I'm using my platform to speak out about rape, despite me wishing it wasn't my story to tell. We estimate there are ten births per day from rape in the UK, yet there is no advice on the NHS website to tell you where to get help, no charity to support you, very few laws to protect you. I'm fighting for a change to the law. As it stands, a man can rape a woman, cause a pregnancy and have rights over the child he does not deserve. I'm tabling an amendment to the Victim and Courts Bill that means where a child is born as a result of rape, the father does not get parental responsibility. It's shocking children are the only proceed of crime a criminal can have lifelong access to. I'm determined to change that. Sammy, who has written a book about her ordeal, Just A Child, bravely waived her right to lifetime anonymity to expose the Rotherham grooming scandal. But she became pregnant at 15 in 1999, so the law would not apply to her. She said: 'I don't see how the Government can carry out a national inquiry and fail to address this huge issue. It hasn't just affected me and my son — so many victims of grooming gangs have suffered the same. 'It has happened all over the country, not just Rotherham. 'Children are being removed, being given to rapists and murderers, for their families to have access. I call it child trafficking through the system. 'Rape victims are also having to go to support centres to share access and see the men that raped them. 4 4 'Women and children are being put at direct risk. It's just wrong, plain and simple.' Arshid 'Mad Ash' Hussain, who is ten years older than Sammy, was jailed in 2016 for 23 offences including rape and assault on victims as young as 11. He is not named on Sammy's son's birth certificate and has never had parental responsibility for him under its legal definition. But he was listed as a respondent in court proceedings instigated by Rotherham Council in 2017. Officials told him he could seek visits from his son and promised to keep him informed of all future proceedings. At a family court hearing, Sammy was told — with no prior warning — that Hussain could attend and seek legal representation. He chose not to, but would have been entitled to request visitation rights, or for his son to be given into the custody of his relatives. I just felt like a dead body on a slab in a morgue. Sammy Woodhouse Sammy said: 'Thankfully he never wanted any part in his son's life so never applied. But the point is, he should never have been given the option. I felt like his rights were put before mine or my son's.' In a statement at the time, Rotherham Council said: 'At no stage has it been the intention of the council to put any child at risk, or to allow any convicted child sexual exploitation offender to have care of any child.' It sought clarification from the Ministry of Justice as to how legal directions relating to Family Court proceedings should be applied. An MoJ statement said: 'Local authorities can apply to courts to request permission not to notify parents without parental responsibility about care proceedings, and courts should consider the potential harm to the child and mother when making this decision. 'This is obviously a very distressing incident and the relevant departments and local authority will work urgently to understand and address the failings in this case.' Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove said it was a 'perverse situation', adding: 'A victim of the worst sexual violence faced the prospect of continuing to be abused by her perpetrator, this time via the family courts.' Sammy's 2018 campaign calling for the amendment of the 1989 Children Act to 'ban any male with a child conceived by rape from applying for access/rights' attracted nearly half a million signatures. 'Absolute monster' She is also campaigning for grooming gang victims to have their criminal convictions quashed when they were coerced into crimes by their abusers. And she wants those in positions of power who turned a blind eye to the gangs to be held to account. She said: 'They should face criminal convictions. It's the only way to stop it happening in the future. 'At the very least, they should be stripped of their pensions.' Sammy has also campaigned — successfully — for children born from rape to be legally recognised as victims, so they can access any support they may need. She felt passionate about the issue after witnessing at first hand how hard it was for her son to come to learn that his father was a rapist. The new law was introduced in 2023, making England and Wales among the first nations in the world to officially confer victim status to children born of rape. Sammy was subjected to horrendous abuse from the age of 14, including rape, assaults and coercion, with threats to kill her family at the hands of Hussain. She has previously said: 'I was pretty much his sex doll. He was an absolute monster. 'I just felt like a dead body on a slab in a morgue.' In 2013, after years of abuse, she approached The Times anonymously with her claims. The resulting coverage led to the 2014 Jay Inquiry, which exposed the Rotherham gang and led to the discovery of more than 1,400 abuse victims in the town between 1997 and 2013.
