A Statute Of Limitations For Sexual Offences

Closing 30/03/2015 23:59 

Introduce a statute of limitations for sexual offences - e-petitions

"Responsible department: Ministry of Justice

Following the recent high-profile acquittals of Nigel Evans, Dave Lee Travis, William Roche etc, it is clear that a statute of limitations must be introduced for historic allegations.

For an offence under section 9 or 15 of the Sexual Offences Act (sexual activity with person under 16) a limitation of 12 months should be re-introduced. This limitation existed for the equivalent offence under pre-2003 legislation.

For an offence of rape, sexual assault etc, a limitation of between 2 and 3 years should be introduced.

For sections 5 through 9 (sexual activity with person under 13) a limitation of 10 years should be introduced. A longer period is called for as children that age are often reluctant to report such an offence.

For all other sexual offences, a limitation of 5 years should be introduced.

These limitations of statute would bring an end to the misery suffered by those people who are falsely accused out of spite, years after the alleged "offences" took place."

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/63867

Please sign and spread the word.

The OSC

The Dance of Ambiguity

Uploaded on Aug 5, 2014

Who's Lying, Who's Self-Justifying? Origins of the He Said/She Said Gap in Sexual Allegations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SpVVsOUsLo&app=desktop

*****

"The Woody Allen sex scandal of 2013 triggered a national conversation on who to believe, with people lining up on each side as if they knew what really happened. Based on recent research on how people navigate the often tricky waters of sexual negotiation.

Dr. Carol Tavris shows that it is entirely possible in some sexual assault cases neither side is lying, but instead both sides feel justified in their positions. This talk was considered one of the best ever given at The Amazing Meeting."

*****

7/8/14

Carol Tavris on accusations vs. skepticism 

http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/carol-tavris-on-accusations-vs-skepticism

*****

The Amazing Meeting 2014

"This annual gathering of critical thinkers is an unparalleled opportunity to make like-minded friends, enjoy some of the brightest minds on issues important to skeptics, and leave with tools for spreading a helpful and educational message to those who might be hurt by charlatans and unfounded belief."

http://www.amazingmeeting.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amaz!ng_Meeting

How Implanted Memories Can Have Real-Life Repercussions

Filmed Jun 2013 • Posted Sep 2013

Elizabeth Loftus: The fiction of memory

"Psychologist Elizabeth Loftus studies memories. More precisely, she studies false memories, when people either remember things that didn't happen or remember them differently from the way they really were. It's more common than you might think, and Loftus shares some startling stories and statistics, and raises some important ethical questions we should all remember to consider.

Memory-manipulation expert Elizabeth Loftus explains how our memories might not be what they seem -- and how implanted memories can have real-life repercussions."

http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_loftus_the_fiction_of_memory.html

Speakers Elizabeth Loftus: False memories scholar

http://www.ted.com/speakers/elizabeth_loftus.html
 
The Myth of Repressed Memory: False Memories and Allegations of Sexual Abuse

http://www.amazon.com/Myth-Repressed-Memory-Memories-Allegations/dp/0312141238/ref=la_B000APKT0Q_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358653207&sr=1-2

*****

September 23, 2013 at 3:00 pm EDT

Elizabeth Loftus on embedding false memories in U.S. soldiers

“We can’t reliably distinguish true memories from false memories,” declares psychologist Elizabeth Loftus in today’s talk. She’s spent the past forty years studying the memory, and has reached some mind-blowing conclusions about what we know, and what we think we know. Here, she shares more detail about her work, and suggests further reading for anyone interested in finding out more about the topic.

http://blog.ted.com/2013/09/23/elizabeth-loftus-on-embedding-false-memories-in-u-s-soldiers/

*****

1996

Memory, Abuse, and Science: Questioning Claims about the False Memory Syndrome Epidemic

"NOTE: This article is the award address for the American Psychological Association's Award for Distinguished Contributions to Public Service. It was published in American Psychologist, vol. 51, no. 9, pages 957-974.

ABSTRACT: Careful assessment of purported scientific discoveries and the resulting interpretations is a responsibility of every scientist. The area of memory, particularly memory for abuse, has recently seen new, highly publicized claims. These include the proposal of a new diagnostic category, the false memory syndrome; claims about the ease with which extensive autobiographical memories can be implanted; and estimates of the extent therapists use risky practices likely to cause false memory syndrome. This article suggests questions to evaluate these claims and the methods used to promote them. Implications for clinical standards and malpractice are discussed."

http://www.kspope.com/memory/memory.php

Chris Pollard Of The Sun - Just Like Any Of Them - Cannot Stop Themselves Being Liars

Chris Pollard - Judge a book by its cover?

Media Guido

https://twitter.com/MediaGuido

Chris Pollard

https://twitter.com/chris_pollard

*****

August 29th, 2013

Why Were 9 Cops Needed to Arrest Innocent Sun Journalist? 

http://order-order.com/2013/08/29/why-were-9-cops-needed-to-arrest-innocent-sun-journalist

Guido fails to allow our reply through. 

*****

Listen to Pollard, here ...

"There's never been any phone hacking at The Sun ... It never took place, there ..." etc etc.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01g3z9x

Then, read these ... 

Labour MP accepts ‘substantial’ phone hacking damages and High Court apology from the Sun

http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/18/labour-mp-accepts-substantial-phone-hacking-damages-and-high-court-apology-from-the-sun-3547131

Sun pays out after MP Siobhain McDonagh phone hacked

http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/sun-pays-out-after-mp-siobhain-mcdonagh-phone-hacked-1-2844257

Sun apologises for hacking stolen phone 

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bc5f3012-8fc4-11e2-ae9e-00144feabdc0.html

London MP reacts to hacking ruling 

http://www.itv.com/news/london/topic/siobhain-mcdonagh

QED. 

Your paymasters' attempts, at damage limitation, will not stop those who know.

*****

The Sun's stolen mobile 'conspiracy': They were just reporters doing their jobs

http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/content/sun-may-have-breached-privacy-looking-stolen-mobiles-criminal-conspiracy-looks-wide-mark

'Over the top and ridiculous' says second Sun journalist cleared of 'handling' stolen mobile he never saw

http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/over-top-and-ridiculous-says-second-sun-journalist-cleared-over-handling-stolen-mobile-he-never

Sun reporter says arrest over handling stolen mobile phone was 'ridiculous'

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/aug/29/sun-reporter-arrest-mobile-phone-ridiculous?CMP=twt_gu

The Fallibility Of Memory

14 August 2013

Evidence-based justice: Corrupted memory

"Elizabeth Loftus has spent decades exposing flaws in eyewitness testimony. Her ideas are gaining fresh traction in the US legal system.

In the early hours of 9 September, 1984, a stranger entered Mrs M's California home through an open living-room window. Finding Mrs M asleep, he tried to rape her, but fled when other people in the house awoke. Mrs M described her assailant to the police: he was black, weighing about 170 pounds and 5'7” to 5'9” tall, with small braids and a blue baseball cap.

Officers cruising her neighbourhood spotted someone roughly matching that description standing beside his car a block away from the house. The man, Joseph Pacely, said that his car had broken down and he was looking for someone to jump-start it. But Mrs M identified him as her attacker and he was charged ..."

http://www.nature.com/news/evidence-based-justice-corrupted-memory-1.13543 

*****

Posted: 10/26/2013 11:00 AM: Updated: 10/26/2013

The Urgent Need to Reform Police Collection of Eyewitness Evidence

http://content.intweetiv.com/view?title=The+Urgent+Need+to+Reform+Police+Collection+of+Eyewitness+Evidence&iframe=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tara-lai-quinlan/the-urgent-need-to-reform_b_4164848.html?utm_hp_ref=tedweekends&ir=TED+Weekends

*****

Filmed May 2012 • Posted Sep 2012

Scott Fraser: Why eyewitnesses get it wrong

http://www.ted.com/talks/scott_fraser_the_problem_with_eyewitness_testimony.html?utm_source=twitter&source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ios-share

It's A FACT

Perspectives on False Allegations of Historical Abuse, July 2103

"Special issue of FACTion incorporating proceedings of the Spring Conference 2013

Guest Editor: Dr Ros Burnett, University of Oxford"

http://www.factuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Vol-4-01.pdf

FACT

http://www.factuk.org

*****

False Witness Statements Led To Instant Tunnel Vision For Investigators

http://justiceforbradcooper.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/false-witness-statements-led-to-instant-tunnel-vision-for-investigators/

If two people accuse you, then you are guilty. They get compensation, you get jail

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3633405/If-two-people-accuse-you-then-you-are-guilty.-They-get-compensation-you-get-jail.html

Could You Trust Such, Clearly, Dysfunctional Men?

PUBLISHED: 22:32, 3 July 2013 | UPDATED: 07:43, 4 July 2013

Our depraved mother: Twin sons reveal how respectable debutante and her friends sexually abused them. Then, when one lost his memory at 18, brother invented a happy family life that never was

>A contemporary [?] of Jimmy Savile, Jill embraced the liberation of the 60s
>She abused her children for years - and even let friends exploit them
>When Alex lost his memory aged 18, Marcus kept their history a secret
>Their mother's death caused Alex to question - and discover - the past
>Now married with kids, the twins have written a book about their lives

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2355135/Our-depraved-mother-On-surface-respectable-debutante-related-Clement-Attlee-But-twin-sons-reveal-victims-sexual-abuse.html

Statute Of Reasonableness

Posted May 07, 2013 @ 06:34 PM

Crime victims seek new laws on legal options

"Recalling painful memories of crimes that occurred years ago, survivors and their family members asked lawmakers to do away with the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse and to increase penalties for certain types of rape.

“I think it’s my fault because I didn’t scream or yell for help. I had Lifeline and I didn’t push the button. I was frozen, numb. I couldn’t speak. Why didn’t I yell? What could I have done to stop him? Why did it hurt so much?” Lisa Flint, of North Attleborough, a woman whose speech and movements are limited by cerebral palsy and who was raped in college, told lawmakers. She said, “This is what my world has been like since May 15, 2000. I ache for some kind of peace within. I have something he wasn’t powerful enough to take and that is hope. I hope someday I can make a difference for someone else.”

Accompanying Flint before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, Rep. Elizabeth Poirier (R-North Attleborough) said she has known Flint since she was a child and said her rapist was sentenced to 20 years, making him eligible for release after 15. Poirier and Flint support legislation (H 1568) that would allow for life sentences for those convicted of raping people with disabilities.

“It is an aggravating circumstance, and should be recognized as such under the law,” Poirier said.

Others testified that they were victims of rape at a young age, and their lives since then have been akin to prison sentences, with no possibility of release.

“There are days when I look up at the sky and I say how much longer,” said Kelly Quinn, who runs the organization Strong and Supported. Quinn’s voice quavered as she testified that the violent rape she experienced as a child had “destroyed every facet of my life.” She said, “I ask, ‘How much longer do I have to endure this existence?”

The Judiciary Committee also heard testimony from those seeking to extend or do away with the statute of limitations for child sex abuse, laws that prevent people from bringing criminal charges or civil lawsuits after a certain period of time."

http://www.wickedlocal.com/northattleborough/newsnow/x94504641/Crime-victims-seek-new-laws-on-legal-options#axzz2SmaBixpi