A survey of over 2,000 survivors of rape and sexual assault published today (21 September 2023) confirms what Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) sees on a daily basis: that reporting rape to the police often causes significant further harm over and above the sexual assault itself.
Read moreVAWG sector calls for all political parties to end violence against women and girls for good
Ahead of the next general election, a coalition of 70 leading organisations working to end violence against women and girls (VAWG) has today (18 September 2023) published a joint manifesto calling on all political parties to adopt its priorities for ending this abuse.
PR: Murder of Nikki Allan 1992: Centre for Women’s Justice launch legal action against Northumbria Police and demand full inquiry into historic failures
Sharon Henderson, whose seven-year-old daughter was murdered in Sunderland
31 years ago, has today (9 August 2023) started the process of holding Northumbria Police accountable for their failures to adequately investigate the crime.
CWJ comment on IOPC launch of multiple investigations into handling of reports about David Carrick
Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) welcomes the announcement today that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) are to launch multiple independent investigations into the repeated failures of the Met Police Service (MPS) to take action following serious criminal allegations against serving officer, David Carrick.
Read morePR: Overhaul of laws to protect women from domestic killers: CWJ welcomes the Government’s recognition of potential gender bias in domestic homicide laws
The Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) welcomes the Lord Chancellor’s announcement to adopt most of the recommendations in Clare Wade KC’s review of Domestic Homicide Sentencing. The focus of his announcement is that such reforms should be aimed at better protecting vulnerable women.
Read moreMPs to debate action needed to address racism and sexism faced by Black, Asian, minoritised and migrant victims of VAWG who are accused of offending
On Wednesday 5 July 2023 MPs will debate action needed to ensure the fair treatment of Black, Asian, minoritised and migrant women and girls who are victims of domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence, and who find themselves in the dock as a result.
Read moreUndercover Police Inquiry first interim report "the end not justified by the means"
The Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) has today (29 June 2023) published its first report into the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) a secret unit within the Metropolitan Police.
Read morePR: What’s Changed? End-to-End Rape Review two years on
Two years on from the government’s End-to-End Rape Review, far too many victims and survivors of rape continue to be failed, according to a new report released by Centre for Women’s Justice, the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Imkaan and Rape Crisis England & Wales.
Read moreMother of murdered child, Nikki Allan, demands a public inquiry into police failures
David Boyd, who was last Friday found guilty of the 1992 murder of seven-year old Nikki Allan has today (23 May 2023) been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 29 years at Newcastle Crown Court.
Read moreCWJ Response to report of Baroness Casey's Review into the Metropolitan Police
Baroness Casey’s review of the Metropolitan Police culture is without precedent in its unswerving criticism of a corrupt, institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic police force. We welcome her “no holds barred” approach and determination to go beyond the usual “learning the lessons” we have repeatedly seen with reports and reviews of policing over the years which have changed nothing.
Read moreCWJ response to Government on Domestic Homicide Review: Cherry picking recommendations will have unintended consequences for victims of domestic abuse
Instead of embracing the opportunity presented by this review to modernise the law and improve how the concept of coercive control is used to inform both defences and sentencing decisions, the government’s cherry picking response fails to address the gender disparities faced by women who kill their abusers and could in fact lead to greater unfairness.
Read moreUndercover Police Inquiry: Revealed – the continuity of misogyny in elite Metropolitan Police units from fifty years back to today’s scandals.
The recent revelations of horrific misogyny and racism within the Met Police exposed in the cases of David Carrick, Wayne Couzens, the Charing Cross police, the police officers who took selfies with the bodies of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, has a history dating back at least fifty years.
Read moreSerial sex offender who pursued a ‘campaign of rape’ while operating a ‘fake’ escort agency is sentenced to 31 years in prison
Nurazzaman Shahin, who was sentenced yesterday at Snaresbrook Crown Court, was found guilty of 22 offences – after two women supported by Centre for Women’s Justice played a crucial role in bringing him to justice.
CWJ Response to the latest news on Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick
The revelations about the offending of David Carrick is a case illustration of everything that is wrong with the policing of male violence against women, the police misconduct system and more specifically, misogyny in the Met.
Read morePR: Children born of rape should be recognised as secondary victims of crime says Justice Committee report
The Justice Committee has today (30th September) published a report on its pre-legislative scrutiny of the Government’s draft Victims Bill, recommending that children born of rape should be recognised as secondary victims and included in the Victims’ Code. This proposal features amongst several other welcome recommendations to strengthen the Bill and improve end-to-end support for victims of crime
Read morePR: Police perpetrated domestic abuse “the police response to PPDA is significantly harming the interests of the public.”
The report published today by the triumvirate body examining police super-complaints has found that many of the extremely concerning issues identified in the Centre for Women’s Justice super-complaint are borne out in a detailed study and 140 page report; ‘the most extensive inquiry’ into this issue ever undertaken in England and Wales’.
Read morePR: New criminal offence of non-fatal strangulation finally becomes law
A long-awaited new criminal offence, advocated for by Centre for Women’s Justice and introduced as an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Act one year ago, finally comes into force today.
Read morePR: CWJ statement on ICO report ‘Who’s under Investigation’
Conflicting guidance will not reassure women who report rape that their privacy rights will be respected.
Read morePR: Woman launches legal case against MI5 in relation to informant who terrorised her
Beth*, the former girlfriend of an MI5 informant who abused her with impunity as revealed by the BBC last night, has launched a legal complaint and claim in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
Read morePR: Rochdale Grooming Survivors Win Historic Victory
The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Stephen Watson QPM, has today met and personally apologised to three victims of grooming gangs in Rochdale for a catalogue of investigative failings that prevented their abusers from being brought to justice.
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