Crime

Victims of child sexual abuse face growing court delays figures show

Published

9 months ago

December 14, 2023

AVERAGE number of days between a defendant being charged in child sexual abuse cases in England and Wales and the criminal trial starting has risen from 273 days in 2017-18 to 423 days in 2022-2023.
Drawn out justice process without the necessary therapeutic support hampering recovery of victims of child sexual abuse.
NSPCC is calling on the UK Government to strengthen the Victims and Prisoners Bill so it invests in reforming the criminal justice system and offers sufficient support to child victims

Victims of child sexual abuse are facing lengthening delays for their case to reach the courts due to UK Government failures to address a backlog of court cases.

New data from the Ministry of Justice shows a record high with the average number of days between a defendant in child sexual abuse cases in England and Wales being charged and the criminal trial starting increasing by 55% in the last five years, from 273 days in 2017 – 2018 to 423 days in 2022/2023.

This means that of the 5,513 outstanding child sexual abuse cases going through the crown courts this year, a 16% increase on the previous year, victims will wait on average almost 14 months before their case even goes to trial.

For a child who is already experiencing depression, suicidal thoughts or PTSD as a consequence of sexual abuse, the drawn-out process of waiting for a trial to start let alone come to completion can be extremely distressing.

Meanwhile, access to specific support to help them recover from the abuse can be scarce. Earlier this year, the NSPCC revealed that only 23% of local authorities say they offer specialised support for children in the form of independent and specially trained advisors.

Many child victims of abuse who contact Childline worry about the court process. One girl who contacted Childline* said: “I have a court case next month and I’m so scared. I don’t want to see the man who attacked me. I do have a social worker, but I don’t feel supported and I’m worried that if I tell them everything that I’m feeling that they might stop the court case. If I’m too scared to see him, what if I can’t speak in court and this has all been for nothing”.

The NSPCC coordinates a coalition of leading children’s charities committed to protecting children and strengthening the criminal justice response.

Together, NSPCC, Barnardo’s, Action for Children, The Children’s Society and the National Youth Advocacy Service urge the UK Government to use the opportunity afforded by the Bill to create a child-centred, sufficiently resourced and accountable justice system. This can be achieved through amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill which is currently making its way through Parliament.

Ahead of the Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords on Monday 18 December, the children’s charities want to see a commitment to improving support for children experiencing abuse and exploitation including providing sufficient and specific support to child victims as they go through the court process.

In addition, the NSPCC is calling on the UK Government to overhaul the criminal justice system, provide significant investment to address the current backlogs in the court, and fast-track cases involving young witnesses and victims.

The charity believes action is urgently needed because of the impact on children and young people.

Poppy, now 19, was sexually abused by her grandfather and disclosed her abuse age 11. It took 18 months for her case to reach trial and 5 months for her to receive counselling.

Now, Poppy and her mum Miranda want there to be more support available for child victims earlier on in the court process. Poppy said: “It was two years until my case came to trial which had a huge impact on me. I have blocked a lot of it out. It was strange going into court knowing it was the day. I was so desperate to fight my own corner and there was a good amount of anger behind me on that day. Telling my side of the story was incredibly important.

“I want all children who have gone through this to get the counselling they need and the support they deserve. It took five months for me to get my first counselling session after I disclosed the abuse, but the wait is so much longer now.”

Miranda added: “It was incredibly difficult for our whole family to watch Poppy go through the court process but the one-to-one counselling we received became a vital support, enabling us to cope effectively. It is unthinkable that some children do not get the same access to services that can help build their resilience and help them move on with their lives.”

Clare Kelly, Associate Head of Policy & Public Affairs at the NSPCC said: “Going through the criminal justice system can be a painful process for children who have experienced abuse. This can be made worse by consistent delays which leave children in limbo, without access to support designed for them to support their recovery.

“Year on year we see court waiting times increase as the courts continue to battle a backlog of child sexual abuse cases. This has been a problem well before the pandemic but has been exacerbated by various lockdowns and court closures over the last five years.

“The Government have said they are committed to supporting victims of child sexual abuse but they must follow through by taking action on these long, distressing court waiting times. This could be achieved partly through the Victims and Prisoners Bill by enshrining a commitment to upholding children’s rights as victims as they go through the courts.

“However, to turn this deteriorating situation around, the Government must also invest in the criminal justice system to ensure these cases are progressed by police

and prosecutors, young witnesses have support to give their evidence and their cases are heard by courts as speedily and effectively as possible”.

Today’s courts backlog data reveals an alarming rise in the overall caseload to over 66,500 – a new record high.

Further, the proportion of cases outstanding for over a year also continues to increase. It is now also at a new record high.

The Victims’ Commissioner calls for “urgent and creative intervention” to address this “crisis.

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness New love, said: “For the second straight quarter in a row, we are witnessing a new record high in the number of outstanding cases in the Crown Court. This is of grave concern.

This cannot be solely attributed to the barristers’ strike, which concluded more than a year ago, or the pandemic. It suggests there are wider systemic problems in our justice system, and I am concerned that chronic and unacceptable delays are becoming ingrained in the system. This must never be normalised nor tolerated.

Over a quarter of all cases are now outstanding for over a year and this proportion is steadily increasing. This is causing victims real and undue distress, as it potentially means they face a wait of months and possibly years before they see justice being done. This has real consequences for our justice system, with many victims unable to last the distance, resulting in prosecutions having to be dropped.

Urgent and creative intervention is needed to address this crisis. No victim should be expected to wait years before their case gets to court.

Crime

Police appeal after male hospitalised in Castle Square assault

Published

4 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are investigating an incident which occurred at about 1.05am, Sunday, September 1.

A 23-year-old man was taken to hospital with head injuries following the incident on Castle Square, Haverfordwest.

A 21-year old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and later released on condition bail pending further police enquiries.

Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys Police, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.

Quote reference: 36 of the 1st.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

Crime

Carmarthenshire County Council gets tough on littering and environmental offences

Published

7 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL reaffirms its dedication to ensuring a clean and safe environment by issuing a number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) and enforcement actions throughout August 2024. These actions address violations of environmental regulations, including littering, fly-tipping, improper waste disposal, and vehicle abandonment.

Littering Offences – £125 FPNs

The Environmental Enforcement Team issued £125 FPNs for various littering offences across the county:

Morrisons Recycling Facility, Trostre: A female resident of Penlan, Bryn, Llanelli was issued an FPN for leaving a carrier bag containing a plate on the ground.
Morrisons Recycling Facility, Llanelli: A female resident of Heol Gwyr, Llanelli was issued an FPN for abandoning a black bag containing a fan surround at the site.
Burry Port Recycling Facility: A female resident of Heol Gwendraeth, Burry Port was issued an FPN for leaving a cardboard box on the ground.
Morrisons Recycling Facility, Trostre: A female resident of Brynhyfryd was issued an FPN for depositing a bag of glass on the ground.
Tesco Extra, Llanelli: A male resident from Felinfoel was issued an FPN for discarding McDonald’s packaging near the clothing banks.
St Clears Bring Site: A female resident of St Clears was issued an FPN for leaving a cardboard box containing broken glass on the ground.
Morrisons Carmarthen: A female resident of Ponthenry was fined for depositing a carrier bag full of household waste at the recycling facility.
Abandonment of a Vehicle – £200 FPN
Pwll, Llanelli: A male resident of Swansea was fined £200 for abandoning a vehicle in the Pwll area.
Fly-Tipping – £400 FPN
St Clears Bring Site: A male resident of Carmarthen Town was issued a £400 FPN for fly-tipping multiple cardboard boxes, books, and household waste, including a black and blue bag, at the site.
Waste Receptacle Offences – £100 FPNs
Several residents were issued £100 FPNs for failing to comply with waste receptacle regulations.
Carmarthen (Sycamore Way): A female resident was fined for placing her waste out on the incorrect day.
Ammanford: A resident was issued an FPN for placing waste in the incorrect location.
Llanelli (Burry Street): A female resident was issued an FPN for placing dirty items, including used puppy pads, in blue recycling bags and for incorrect waste collection timing.
Carmarthen (Belvedere Avenue): A female resident was issued an FPN for placing glass and contaminated items in blue recycling bags.
Llanelli (Station Road): A female resident was issued an FPN for placing contaminated waste in blue bags on the wrong day and time.
Llanelli (Stafford Street): Two female residents were issued FPNs for placing dirty items and food waste in blue recycling bags.
Llanelli (Burry Street): Another female resident was issued an FPN for placing textiles and dirty items in blue bags and for incorrect waste collection timing.
Carmarthen (Belvedere Avenue): A resident was issued an FPN for placing black and blue bags out on the wrong day and contaminating blue recycling bags.
Prosecutions

Carmarthenshire County Council successfully prosecuted two individuals for littering offences:

Water Street, Carmarthen: On 3rd January 2024, Mr. Martin Robert Tucker of Penrhiwllan, Llandysul, was witnessed throwing a cigarette butt from his vehicle. Despite being offered the opportunity to pay a £125 FPN, Mr. Tucker failed to do so. The case was referred to the magistrates, resulting in a £270 fine, £300 in costs, and an £88 victim surcharge.
Vaughan Street, Llanelli: Mr. Stuart Allen, a Llanelli resident, was seen discarding a cigarette end in January 2024. After failing to pay the £125 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), the case was brought to court. Mr. Allen was then issued a £120 FPN, and the magistrates imposed £200 in court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
Enforcement Notices Issued

In August 2024, Carmarthenshire County Council issued:

39 Section 46 Notices under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for failure to adhere to waste disposal regulations.
12 Section 47 Notices under the same act for offences related to commercial and industrial waste disposal.
Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation, and Sustainability, said:

“These enforcement actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to protecting the environment. We urge residents to adhere to waste disposal regulations and to report any offences.”

Residents are encouraged to report fly-tipping or other environmental violations through the Council’s website or by calling 01267 234567.

Crime

Jealous Milford Haven boyfriend jailed for coercive control

Published

9 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A MAN has been sentenced to prison for coercive control after subjecting his partner to a campaign of manipulation and control. Wayne Davies, formerly of Milford Haven, was handed an 18-week prison sentence at Swansea Crown Court after admitting to a series of controlling behaviours.

Davies, 47, who had been living with his partner in Milford Haven, initially denied the charges but changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial. The court heard that he had been in custody since his arrest in March, and with time already served, it is likely he will be released imminently.

The case revolved around Davies’ behaviour towards his partner between 1 October 2023 and 3 March 2024. The couple had met on the dating app Tinder, and Davies moved in with the woman within two months, following his eviction from his own accommodation. At first, the relationship appeared to be going well, with no apparent issues.

However, as the relationship progressed, Davies’ behaviour became increasingly controlling. Prosecutor Alycia Carpanini described how he deleted his partner’s social media accounts, including her TikTok and Facebook friends, and accused her of having relationships with her colleagues. He also changed her phone password, carried her phone around with him, and attempted to pressure her into selling her car, which held sentimental value as a gift from her late father.

The court heard how Davies’ actions had a significant impact on the woman’s well-being. In her victim statement, she described feeling “anxious, paranoid and on edge” as a result of his behaviour.

In his defence, barrister Hywel Davies highlighted his client’s vulnerabilities, stating that Davies had been diagnosed with autism and suffered from “numerical and literary deficiencies”. He argued that his time in custody had been particularly difficult, describing prison as “absolutely terrifying” for Davies, who felt vulnerable and believed that other inmates had taken advantage of him.

Mr Davies also noted that his client had lost custody of his two children while in prison, a further consequence of his actions. He urged the court to take into consideration the nearly six months Davies had already spent in custody.

Recorder Aidan Eardley KC, in passing sentence, acknowledged the distress caused by Davies’ actions, stating that his behaviour had caused “serious alarm and distress” to his former partner. Davies was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, followed by a year of post-sentence supervision.

Additionally, a five-year restraining order was imposed, forbidding Davies from contacting the woman or her mother and from approaching their home. Despite the sentence, the time already served means Davies is likely to be released soon.

This case underscores the seriousness with which the courts view coercive control, a form of domestic abuse that often goes unseen but has profound effects on victims.