DOCSLIB.ORG

Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses: a Review of the Literature

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses: a Review of the Literature VULNERABLE AND INTIMIDATED WITNESSES: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Robin Elliott Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate 99 100 The views expressed in this report are not necessarily the views of the Review Group or the Home Office. 101 Acknowledgements I would like co thank the staff of the Home Office Library for their assistance in collecting the material on which this reporr is based. Thanks are also due to the many others, both within the Review team and within the Home Office, who provided material and commented on early drafts of this report. Thanks also to Natalie Wood and Margaret Allday for their help in producing the charts and tables. ROBIN ELLIOTT 102 Summary Defining vulnerable andinrimidarcd witnesses • victim intimidation is more common than will be an important: factor in influencing whether non-victim witness intimidation; those in most need of special assistance receive it. This is nor straightforward, but some jurisdictions • women are at greater risk than men; have legislation enabling extra help to be given to "special witnesses" which suggest possible criteria. • risk of intimidation seems to vary according These include: to the nature of the initial orrence; • the witness's personal characteristics (such as • intimidation is more likely when the physical or mental condition, age and offender is known to the witness; and cultural background); • in most cases, intimidation seems to be • the nature of the offence; perpetrated by the initial offender. • the relationship between the witness and Six tasks for the criminal justice system are: defendant; • minimising risks oi intimidation associated • the nature of- the evidence the witness is with involvement in the criminal justice required to give; and system (including reporting intimidation); • the defendants characteristics (particularly • preparing for the possibility of intimidation; dangerousness). • recognising intimidation: The literature review focuses on three main groups: intimidated witnesses, those with disabilities arid • dealing with intimidation where it occurs; illnesses, and victims of special offences. • preventing further intimidation; and Intimidated witnesses • mounting a case when no witnesses come forward. Several authors have suggested there are different types of intimidation. For example, case-specific Measures can he identified to assist each task: for intimidation involves threats or violence intended example surveillance operations and professional to discourage a particular person from helping a witnesses may be used to mount cases where particular investigation. Community-wide witnesses will not come forward. Such approaches intimidation covers acts intended to create a have limitations though: it seems preferable general atmosphere of fear and non-cooperation therefore that more attention is given to the other with the criminal justice system, within a tasks listed above. particular area or community. These categorisations are useful because they suggest different approaches may be needed to tackle Witnesses with disabilities and different types of intimidation. illnesses However, information on the scale and nature of More literature was found on the experiences of the problem is very limited, partly because of the witnesses with learning disabilities in the criminal nature of the problem. Despite this, there is some justice system than for those with physical evidence suggesting: disabilities or mental illness. However it appears 103 that at lease five areas of personal hinctioning may violence, racial incidents and hare crimes agaiusr be affected by disabilities and illnesses: sexual minorities. • memory; it is difficult to estimate the scale of these crimes, for various reasons including under-reporting • communication skills; (particularly in sexual and domestic violence) and the way these offences are recorded by the • emotional resilience (including response to criminal justice system (particularly domestic perceived aggression); violence and racial incidents). Nevertheless, the evidence suggests that these offences are relatively • mobility; and rare. Sexual offences and domestic violence appear to be much less common than property crime for • soci.il skills. example, and racially motivated crimes much less common rhan crimes where there was no Some means of distinguishing those who are apparent racial motive. vulnerable is needed. Three approaches are discussed: Against this, the recorded rates of all three offences have increased in recent years and incidents of • drawing up a list of groups who qualify as domestic violence reported to the British Crime vulnerable; Survey have increased. However, increased reporting could at least partly account for this. • detailing one or more tests to determine whether a particular witness qualifies; and A number of areas were found where the literature .suggests die criminal justice response to witnesses • leaving the decision to the discretion or the of special offences could be improved. Some of various criminal justice agencies: expert these are particular to one offence: for example, assessments could be used to this end. having a choice of a female doctor to conduct medical examinations for female sex offence Seven themes to improve responses to witnesses complainants. Other concerns were common. For with disabilities or illnesses can be identified: example one common concern is that seeing the alleged offender in court may be upsetting: • encouraging reporting; screens are one possible response. Some efforts have been made to improve the criminal justice • idenniying vulnerability; response. However, very little research was found evaluating the effect of these changes. • facilitating communication; Nevertheless it appears that although some improvements may have been made, there is srill • recognising that a crime has occurred; concern about how these groups fare. • increasing understanding; Conclusions • providing support; and Numerous possible measures to improve the • preventing future offences. situation of vulnerable witnesses are identified within the report, requiring varying levels of A thread which runs through many of these intervention. Some are specific to a particular type concerns is the role of carers. of vulnerable witnesses, but many could be applied to more than one group. A number of practical issues about using special measures for Victims of special offences vulnerable witnesses are identified, such as whether measures should be granted as a right, Victims of special offences and possibly others and who should have responsibility for providing who have suffered repeat victimisation may be them. More fundamentally, the use of special seen as vulnerable witnesses. Four main groups are measures to protect vulnerable witnesses has considered: victims of sexual offences, domestic implications for justice. 104 Section 1: Introduction Background providing any such .special measures would be reduced. This report summarises the findings or a literature review on vulnerable and intimidated witnesses. Despite the importance of carefully defining The literature review was commissioned by the vulnerable witnesses, there is little literature on Home Office to feed into and inform an inter- this subject. This is at least partly because most of departmental government review of this area the literature examines how individual groups of (hereafter referred to as "the review"). The review's people experience the criminal justice process, terms of reference were as follows: rather than considering vulnerable witnesses as whole. This neglect could also perhaps be related UI laving regard to the interests of justice: the to a concern (noted by the Western Australian importance of preventing and detecting crime, Law Reform Commission I 990: 64) that singling the needs of witnesses and cost effectiveness, out certain groups as vulnerable may be experienced as patronizing or discriminatory. and taking into account the National Standards of Witness ("are in England and Wales, However, failure to recognise and compensate for inequalities between witnesses seems both • to identify measures at all stages of the inhumane (when this results in stress or trauma criminal justice process which will improve for the witness) and unjust. There are other the treatment of vulnerable witnesses, problems: although a group of people may be including chose likely to be subject to potentially vulnerable, in practice not all members intimidation; of the group will actually be vulnerable. • to encourage such witnesses to give evidence Those authors who have looked at vulnerable of crime and enabling them to give best witnesses as a whole have generally tackled these evidence in court; problems in the same way: • ro consider which witnesses should be • first, by suggesting certain conditions where classified as vulnerable; a witness may be vulnerable; and • to identify effective procedures for applying • secondly, by recommending that the courts appropriate measures in individual cases; be given the discretion to decide whether those conditions are met in the individual • and to make costed recommendations." Some examples of the definitions which have been Definitions suggested ate given overleaf. The definition of a vulnerable or intimidated witness is a key concern for the review. Deciding who should be classified as a vulnerable witness has important practical implications. In particular, where special assistance is available to vulnerable witnesses generally, it will be an important
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Too Drunk to Say No” Anneke Meyer
    This article was downloaded by: [University of California, Santa Barbara] On: 13 September 2010 Access details: Access Details: [subscription number 918976320] Publisher Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37- 41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Feminist Media Studies Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713700978 “Too Drunk To Say No” Anneke Meyer Online publication date: 10 February 2010 To cite this Article Meyer, Anneke(2010) '“Too Drunk To Say No”', Feminist Media Studies, 10: 1, 19 — 34 To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1080/14680770903457071 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14680770903457071 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. “TOO DRUNK TO SAY NO” Binge drinking, rape and the Daily Mail Anneke Meyer In recent years, both the media and the government in the UK have been increasingly preoccupied with the problem of rape involving alcohol.
    [Show full text]
  • CNI -January 14
    January 14 ! CNI ! Loyalist prisoner turned pastor speaking tour on ‘How Healing Comes’ A former member of the Ulster Volunteer Force who became a pastor in England after serving an 11-year sentence in the Maze prison will speak at [email protected] Page !1 January 14 a number of venues between February 18 and 22. Pastor David ‘Packie’ Hamilton will be speaking on the theme ‘How Healing Comes’ at churches including St Anne’s Cathedral, St George’s, Belfast, and Lisburn Cathedral. David was imprisoned in 1978. He had a strong Christian conversion in 1980 which he attributes to the fervent prayers of an elderly lady called Annie Beggs. On his release from prison in 1983, David became a full time Christian worker, evangelist and preacher, working firstly with Prison Fellowship and Teen Challenge before becoming a pastor of a large independent church in Manchester. He is now retired and undertakes preaching engagements wherever and whenever called. He is a very good preacher and has a repertoire of a rich number of factual stories to tell and brings them alive with his style which can be very humorous at times. On previous visits to Belfast, many have commented on how impacted they were by David’s testimony and preaching. [email protected] Page !2 January 14 David is the author of A Cause Worth Living For: My Journey Out of Terrorism, published in 2008. His appearance in St Anne’s Cathedral will be at Special Service of Healing organised by the interdenominational Divine Healing Ministries. David’s full schedule is as follows: Lisburn Cathedral (Day of Prayer), Saturday, 18th February, 2017 @ 11am and 12.30pm Lisburn Cathedral, Sunday, 19th February, 2017 @ 11am St.
    [Show full text]
  • Whole Day Download the Hansard
    Monday Volume 619 9 January 2017 No. 86 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 9 January 2017 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2017 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT MEMBERS OF THE CABINET (FORMED BY THE RT HON.THERESA MAY, MP, JULY 2016) PRIME MINISTER,FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY AND MINISTER FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE—The Rt Hon. Theresa May, MP CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER—The Rt Hon. Philip Hammond, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT—The Rt Hon. Amber Rudd, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS—The Rt Hon. Boris Johnson, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE—The Rt Hon. Sir Michael Fallon, MP LORD CHANCELLOR AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR JUSTICE—The Rt Hon. Elizabeth Truss, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AND MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND EQUALITIES—The Rt Hon. Justine Greening, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION—The Rt Hon. David Davis, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE—The Rt Hon. Liam Fox, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR BUSINESS,ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY—The Rt Hon. Greg Clark, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH—The Rt Hon. Jeremy Hunt, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WORK AND PENSIONS—The Rt Hon. Damian Green, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT—The Rt Hon. Chris Grayling, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT—The Rt Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • CNI -January 7
    January 7 ! CNI Bishop of Cashel reflects on his past 10 years ! I n a New Year’s Letter to parishioners in Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, Bishop Michael Burrowes looks back over his past ten years of ministry, talks about what challenges him, wearies him and what gives him joy and highlights the value of simple steadfastness in the midst of rapid change. Bishop Michael writes - “Dear Friends, Some months ago, for the first time in my ordained life, I [email protected] Page !1 January 7 reached the point where I could look back across a decade spent in the same context of ministry and remind myself of the things that were both inspiring me and troubling me ten years previously. It is a useful method by which to take stock, to assess progress, to identify mistakes and, just occasionally, to acknowledge frustration. “So as we begin 2017, I pulled down the magazine for January 2007 – for, like many other readers, I keep all the back numbers safely. Not for the first time, I was struck by the rate of change through which we have lived. Six of the thirty-two incumbents in office then are now serving in the same parish. Both archdeacons and all six deans have changed. The editorship of the magazine is in different hands. Beyond this diocese, the province of Dublin has a different archbishop and just three other bishops of the Church of Ireland are now in the same dioceses as they occupied in early 2007. Of the fifteen other Anglican bishops of the so-called Celtic fringe (Wales, Scotland and Man), only two remain in office since those times and one of these, the archbishop of Wales, is just about to retire.
    [Show full text]
  • Policing Sexual Assault
    Policing sexual assault Since the 1970s, feminist campaigners have put pressure on governments to take the issue of male violence seriously. By focusing on research in Britain and other countries, Policing Sexual Assault traces the ways in which the criminal justice system has responded to feminist demands for improvements in service and access to justice for the victims of domestic and sexual violence. It includes the first survey of police recording practices of male rape and also presents a detailed account of the experiences of women complainants, their views of the police, the medical examination and court procedures. The link is made between the treatment of complainants and internal policies on the recruitment and promotion of women officers and the growing scandal of sexual harassment within the force. Also assessed are the role of the Crown Prosecution Service and factors associated with the dramatic fall in the conviction rate for rape. Policing Sexual Assault draws on original research and other studies to develop insights into policing violence and presents the case for radical reform. Jeanne Gregory is Visiting Professor and Head of the Gender Research Centre, Middlesex University. Sue Lees is Professor of Women’s Studies and Director of the Centre for Research in Ethnicity and Gender, University of North London. Policing sexual assault Jeanne Gregory and Sue Lees London and New York First published 1999 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library,2002.
    [Show full text]
  • Sexual Crime: a Reference Handbook
    SEXUAL CRIME Selected Titles in ABC-CLIO’s CONTEMPORARY WORLD ISSUES Series American Families in Crisis, Jeffrey S. Turner Campaign and Election Reform, Glenn H. Utter and Ruth Ann Strickland Chemical and Biological Warfare, Al Mauroni Childhood Sexual Abuse, Karen L. Kinnear Climate Change, David L. Downie, Kate Brash, and Catherine Vaughan Corporate Crime, Richard D. Hartley Domestic Violence, Margi Laird McCue Education in Crisis, Judith A. Gouwens Emergency Management, Jeffrey B. Bumgarner Energy Use Worldwide, Jaina L. Moan and Zachary A. Smith Environmental Justice, David E. Newton Food Safety, Nina E. Redman Gangs, Karen L. Kinnear Globalization, Justin Ervin and Zachary A. Smith Lobbying in America, Ronald J. Hrebenar and Bryson B. Morgan Mainline Christians and U.S. Public Policy, Glenn H. Utter Mental Health in America, Donna R. Kemp Modern Sports Ethics, Angela Lumpkin Nuclear Weapons and Nonproliferation, Sarah J. Diehl and James Clay Moltz Obesity, Judith Stern and Alexandra Kazaks Policing in America, Leonard A. Steverson Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources, Zachary A. Smith and Katrina D. Taylor Rich and Poor in America, Geoffrey Gilbert Sentencing, Dean John Champion U.S. National Security, Cynthia A. Watson U.S. Social Security, Steven G. Livingston Waste Management, Jacqueline Vaughn For a complete list of titles in this series, please visit www.abc-clio.com. Books in the Contemporary World Issues series address vital issues in today’s society, such as genetic engineering, pollution, and biodiversity. Written by professional writers, scholars, and nonacademic experts, these books are authoritative, clearly written, up-to-date, and objective. They provide a good starting point for research by high school and college students, scholars, and general readers as well as by legislators, businesspeople, activists, and others.
    [Show full text]
  • Child Protection in Voluntary Sector Sport Organisations
    Child Protection in Voluntary Sector Sport Organisations Diana Elizabeth Summers May 2000 A thesis submitted to the University of Bristol, through Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education in part requirement for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Word Count 84, 530 Abstract This thesis examines the issue of child protection policy in voluntary sector organisations. More particularly it examines policies concerned with protecting children from child sexual abuse, within the Church of England and British voluntary sector sport over a period in the mid-1990s. Using a poststructuralist theory, specifically Actor Network Theory (ANT) this thesis explores child protection policy and discussion through case studies in the contexts of one Church of England diocese and seven voluntary sector sport organisations, utilising semi­ structured interviews and documentary analysis. It is suggested that the Church of England and British voluntary sector sport have common discursive 'frames', through the historical incorporation of Christian discourses into the beginnings of modem sport in the 19th Century English Public Schools, that support sexual violence against women and children and which provide legitimate identities for abusers. This cultural support for abuse, combined with similar incoherence in the organisational structures in both the Church of England and British voluntary sector sport organisations, is identified as preventing the effective dissemination of child protection policy, where such existed. The major difference between the two areas is identified as the focus within sport organisations on an 'organisational body project' by which organisational aims are achieved. This focus on the body in sport, it is argued, provides increased access and opportunities for abuse by those, like coaches, who most immediately manage the 'organisational body project'.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Prison Library in the Reform and Rehabilitation Process
    0 THE ROLE OF THE PRISON LIBRARY IN THE REFORM AND REHABILITATION PROCESS Tony Stevens A study submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of: Doctor of Philosophy at The Department of Information Studies The University of Sheffield June 1995 VDK I THE ROLE OF THE PRISON LIBRARY IN THE REFORM AND REHABILITATION PROCESS Tony Stevens ABSTRACT This study evaluates the contribution made by the prison library to the rehabilitation of adult male offenders. The research was undertaken in ten prison establishments in England and Wales, and examined a diverse sample of the inmate population. A qualitative methodology was employed, using semi-structured interviews. In total, 124 interviews with inmates, 62 interviews with staff and 20 interviews with ex-offenders recently released from custody, were conducted. The project examines different components of prison library operations and their impact upon the rehabilitative process. Principally, the role of the library as an educational resource, as an information provider and as a source for recreational reading are analysed. In addition, the influence of religious material supplied by the library is also discussed. Throughout the study particular reference is made to the value of cognitive-behavioural interventions with offenders. Through such interventions inmates can begin to take responsibility for their own actions and address their own pattern of offending. A library service can support such interventions in three principal ways: empowering the prisoner with information, providing help with a range of practical skills and helping change inmates, attitudes and behaviours. A key factor examined is the potential of the library to provide an appropriate learning environment for prisoners to tackle these issues and internalise pro-social responses.
    [Show full text]
  • THE ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Registered Charity No
    THE ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Registered Charity no. 1072511 14 St Mary’s Street, Truro. TR1 2AF PATRONS The Rt. Revd. Tim Thornton - Bishop of Truro Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE - Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall PRESIDENT The Very Revd Roger Bush, Dean FRIENDS COUNCIL Mr. Christopher Barley – Chairman Mr. Adam Starr – Vice Chairman Mrs. Roberta Evans – Secretary Mr. Martin Welton – Treasurer Mr. Christopher Rowe – Membership Secretary Canon Alan Bashforth Mr. Mark Evans Canon Simon Griffiths Mr. Ian Hare Mr. Eric Mundler Mr. John Sansom Ms. Daphne Skinnard 2 WELCOME TO THE FRIENDS OF TRURO CATHEDRAL SPRING NEWS 2017 In order to reduce the amount of paper used in the past we are once again including “Tear Out Application Forms” at the end of this publication instead of separate fliers. So if you wish tobook for lunch, buy tickets for any event or nominate someone for Council please tear out and use as appropriate. COUNCIL The following member of Council will be retiring - Christopher Barley. As a result, there will be a vacancy for one lay member of Council. Nomination forms must be returned to the Secretary by 12th May. “Tear out” nomination forms are available at the back of this publication. AGM LUNCH MENU Drink on arrival Buffet Lunch Chicken in Tarragon Cream Sauce, Beef Casserole Mushroom Stroganoff (Vegetarian) followed by Lemon Meringue Pie or Trifle Tea/Coffee £15.50 per person Please complete the Lunch Booking form at the back of this publication. Menu choices are not required but please notify if you require the Vegetarian option (Mushroom Stroganoff) or other dietary requirements.
    [Show full text]
  • Covering Rape
    Covering rape: How the media determine how we understand sexualised violence Alessia Tranchese Abstract The focus of this paper is a corpus study of the representation of rape in the mainstream quality press in the UK and a discussion of the broader social implications of such representation. This paper uses corpus analysis tools to study the discourse that surrounds the terms rape and raped and their collocates in a corpus of four British quality newspapers and compares the findings of the corpus analysis with corpus-external data (e.g. statistics on rape crimes, government reports, rape myths) to determine whether (and to what extent) the images foregrounded by the press in the corpus echo such contextual information. On the basis of this comparison, I argue that the representation of rape in the corpus reflects and reinforces dominant stereotypical understandings of rape rooted in patriarchal conceptualisations of gender roles and sexualities and perpetuated by established professional practices in mainstream journalism. Keywords Rape, critical discourse analysis, corpus analysis, news discourse, violence against women Introduction The aim of this paper is to use corpus analysis tools (particularly collocation and concordance analysis) to deconstruct the discourse that surrounds rape in the British quality press through the analysis of the terms rape and raped and their collocates in a corpus of four British newspapers. Rape is the only gender-based crime in which one of the ‘weapons’ is always a sexual act; in fact, it is often referred to as sexual violence. According to British law, ‘a person (A) commits an offence if he intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis’ and if ‘B does not consent to the penetration’.1 In other words, according to the legal definition, forced penetration by someone’s penis is the sexual act that characterises rape.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Research Online Oro.Open.Ac.Uk
    Open Research Online The Open University’s repository of research publications and other research outputs Section 4 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976 Book Section How to cite: McGlynn, Clare and Downes, Julia (2018). Section 4 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976. In: Rackley, Erika and Auchmuty, Rosemary eds. Women’s Legal Landmarks: Celebrating the history of women and law in the UK and Ireland. Hart Publishing, pp. 327–332. For guidance on citations see FAQs. c [not recorded] https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Version: Accepted Manuscript Link(s) to article on publisher’s website: https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/womens-legal-landmarks-9781782259770/ Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online’s data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page. oro.open.ac.uk Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1976, sec 4: Anonymity for Rape Complainants Clare McGlynn and Julia Downes Anonymity for rape complainants, that is shielding the identity of the complainant in the press, was established in 1976 by section 4 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act: ‘after a person is accused of a rape offence no matter likely to lead members of the public to identify a woman as the complainant in relation to that accusation shall … be published in England and Wales’. The provision was gender-specific and worked by making it a criminal offence for the media to reveal the complainant’s identity or any information that might lead to the complainant being identified.
    [Show full text]
  • Briefing on the Proposed Clergy Conduct Measure
    Briefing on the Proposed Clergy Conduct Measure This paper examines proposals for a new Clergy Conduct Measure. The initial proposals are set out in a paper to the Church of England’s General Synod (report GS 2219), which suggests replacing the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 with a new Measure that would introduce a distinction between “allegations of misconduct”, which would be handled centrally, and “complaints”, which would be handled locally. The Jill Saward Organisation has prepared this briefing because it is concerned that the limited information currently available about the proposed new Measure is silent on some of the fundamental issues of concern in the existing Clergy Discipline Measure. This briefing, by the Jill Saward Organisation director Gavin Drake, is offered to aid members of General Synod as they consider the proposals. The Jill Saward Organisation Ltd 483 Green Lanes London N13 4BS [email protected] 020 3740 3478 www.thejso.uk Jill Saward® is a registered trademark The Jill Saward Organisation Ltd is a company limited by guarantee Registered in England (company number: 12674346) Registered Address: 7 Bell Yard London WC2A 2JR Briefing on the Proposed Clergy Conduct Measure Introduction Jill Saward was one of the UK’s most inspirational The programme carried the subtitle “No Great campaigners for victims and survivors of sexual Trauma”, after the words used by the judge in violence. She was born in Liverpool in 1965. Her explaining his sentencing decision. father was the Revd Michael Saward, the well-known hymn writer who would go on to become Canon Jill has directly supported thousands of victims and Treasurer of Saint Paul’s Cathedral.
    [Show full text]