Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Facebook break-up leads to transatlantic investigation
"The bitter break-up of a Facebook romance involving two Limerick teenagers has triggered a transatlantic Garda investigation.
Gardaí, who are gathering evidence on an alleged threat complaint by a girl against a youth, have brought in Interpol, which is liaising with authorities in the US and Canada.
A Garda source described the investigation as “problematic” as it involves tracking and gathering material from cyberspace.
The two 16-year-olds befriended one another on Facebook and decided to pursue a relationship.
The garda said the relationship came to its next level and the two met.
However, after meeting the boy, the girl decided she did not wish to continue a relationship.
Following this, the youth began to issue threats on Facebook, including one that he would cause her serious harm.
As a result of these contacts, the girl made a complaint to gardaí which has resulted in an investigation that is ongoing.
The garda said a threat to cause serious harm falls into the category of a threat to kill.
In order to get Facebook evidence in the case, gardaí in Limerick have brought in Interpol to liaise with authorities in the US and Canada to access servers there which would contain material relevant to the complaint made by the alleged victim.
The garda said the fact that Interpol have to track down material from North America will cause some delay in the investigation.
Other issues in relation to different interpretations of law in different jurisdictions have also to be addressed by Interpol."
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/facebook-break-up-leads-to-transatlantic-investigation-249428.html#.UoOF89TTnyQ.twitter
Showing posts with label Overreaction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Overreaction. Show all posts
Thursday, 21 November 2013
Friday, 2 August 2013
Police Unthinkingly Substituting Their Own View - How Odd
June 13th, 2013
Enhanced criminal records certificates – teachers on trial
"Of course, a critically important issue for the teacher in question is whether the allegations will ultimately find their way into any enhanced criminal record certificate (ECRC). This is an issue which has been considered by the High Court in two recent cases.
In the first, R (L) v Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary [2013] EWHC 869 (Admin), L, a teacher, had been accused of having improperly propositioned and hugged an 18 year old pupil whilst at a pub. L had denied the allegations and no criminal prosecution had ultimately been mounted. The High Court held that inclusion in the ECRC of information relating to the allegations was unlawful as it constituted a disproportionate and hence unjustified interference with L’s Article 8 rights (see further Rachel Kamm’s more detailed post on this judgment here).
This week, the High Court has given judgment in the case of RK v (1) Chief Constable of South Yorkshire (2) Disclosure and Banning Service [2013] EWHC 1555 (Admin). RK had previously been acquitted of six counts of indecent assault and sexual activity with a child (in essence it was alleged that RK had repeatedly touched the bottoms of teenage girls in his care). Nine years later RK sought disclosure of a draft ECRC from the Constabulary. The draft included information about the allegations and referred to them as ‘offenses’. RK sought a judicial review of the draft certificate.
"Critically the judgments in both L and RK highlight the dangers attendant on the police unthinkingly substituting their own view of an individual’s guilt or innocence in the face of an acquittal by the criminal courts or other important evidence raising questions about the reliability of the information in issue."
http://www.panopticonblog.com/2013/06/13/enhanced-criminal-records-certificates-teachers-on-trial/
*****
Crimeing People
http://www.crimetalk.org.uk/reviews/articles/922-crimeing-people.html
Enhanced criminal records certificates – teachers on trial
"Of course, a critically important issue for the teacher in question is whether the allegations will ultimately find their way into any enhanced criminal record certificate (ECRC). This is an issue which has been considered by the High Court in two recent cases.
In the first, R (L) v Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary [2013] EWHC 869 (Admin), L, a teacher, had been accused of having improperly propositioned and hugged an 18 year old pupil whilst at a pub. L had denied the allegations and no criminal prosecution had ultimately been mounted. The High Court held that inclusion in the ECRC of information relating to the allegations was unlawful as it constituted a disproportionate and hence unjustified interference with L’s Article 8 rights (see further Rachel Kamm’s more detailed post on this judgment here).
This week, the High Court has given judgment in the case of RK v (1) Chief Constable of South Yorkshire (2) Disclosure and Banning Service [2013] EWHC 1555 (Admin). RK had previously been acquitted of six counts of indecent assault and sexual activity with a child (in essence it was alleged that RK had repeatedly touched the bottoms of teenage girls in his care). Nine years later RK sought disclosure of a draft ECRC from the Constabulary. The draft included information about the allegations and referred to them as ‘offenses’. RK sought a judicial review of the draft certificate.
"Critically the judgments in both L and RK highlight the dangers attendant on the police unthinkingly substituting their own view of an individual’s guilt or innocence in the face of an acquittal by the criminal courts or other important evidence raising questions about the reliability of the information in issue."
http://www.panopticonblog.com/2013/06/13/enhanced-criminal-records-certificates-teachers-on-trial/
*****
Crimeing People
http://www.crimetalk.org.uk/reviews/articles/922-crimeing-people.html
Monday, 13 May 2013
Across The Water
12 May 2013
Deprived children hit by garda vetting delay
"St Vincent de Paul warns backlog is harming recruitment of volunteers.
ONE of Ireland's biggest charities has warned the Justice Minister that services to disadvantaged children could be curtailed because of the huge delays in the garda vetting system.
St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has complained that vetting of volunteers for services such as children's summer camps, home work clubs and counselling can take as long as four months.
SVP's national director Kieran Murphy said the 16-week backlog means that services might have to be curtailed or suspended as a result.
In a letter to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, Mr Murphy said it was "critically important that the process times be substantially reduced, otherwise the operational difficulties for organisations will be significant and the credibility of the whole garda vetting process may be undermined.
"If process times cannot be reduced to within three to four weeks, some of our services may have to be curtailed or suspended with significant impact for the people involved and adverse publicity.""
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/deprived-children-hit-by-garda-vetting-delay-29259845.html
Sat, May 11, 2013, 17:03
Justice system ‘unsuited’ to dealing with child abuse, conference told
"Consultant psychologist says garda interview techniques not suited to younger children
Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness chaired the Voice of the Child conference in Dublin today, which examined aspects of the law in relation to children and how the legal system deals with child sexual abuse cases.
The adversarial nature of the criminal justice process is unsuited to dealing with sensitive issues like child sexual abuse, a conference on childcare was told today.
In a paper presented at the Voice of the Child conference in Dublin, consultant psychologist Dr Rosaleen McElvaney said responses to children who report sexual abuse need to take account of sexual abuse as a crime but they also need to take a broader perspective than a forensic one.
They should take account of children’s needs for therapeutic intervention and protection when required, she said."
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/justice-system-unsuited-to-dealing-with-child-abuse-conference-told-1.1390313
Deprived children hit by garda vetting delay
"St Vincent de Paul warns backlog is harming recruitment of volunteers.
ONE of Ireland's biggest charities has warned the Justice Minister that services to disadvantaged children could be curtailed because of the huge delays in the garda vetting system.
St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has complained that vetting of volunteers for services such as children's summer camps, home work clubs and counselling can take as long as four months.
SVP's national director Kieran Murphy said the 16-week backlog means that services might have to be curtailed or suspended as a result.
In a letter to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, Mr Murphy said it was "critically important that the process times be substantially reduced, otherwise the operational difficulties for organisations will be significant and the credibility of the whole garda vetting process may be undermined.
"If process times cannot be reduced to within three to four weeks, some of our services may have to be curtailed or suspended with significant impact for the people involved and adverse publicity.""
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/deprived-children-hit-by-garda-vetting-delay-29259845.html
Sat, May 11, 2013, 17:03
Justice system ‘unsuited’ to dealing with child abuse, conference told
"Consultant psychologist says garda interview techniques not suited to younger children
Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness chaired the Voice of the Child conference in Dublin today, which examined aspects of the law in relation to children and how the legal system deals with child sexual abuse cases.
The adversarial nature of the criminal justice process is unsuited to dealing with sensitive issues like child sexual abuse, a conference on childcare was told today.
In a paper presented at the Voice of the Child conference in Dublin, consultant psychologist Dr Rosaleen McElvaney said responses to children who report sexual abuse need to take account of sexual abuse as a crime but they also need to take a broader perspective than a forensic one.
They should take account of children’s needs for therapeutic intervention and protection when required, she said."
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/justice-system-unsuited-to-dealing-with-child-abuse-conference-told-1.1390313
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Sorry We Could Not Have Been There
07 May 2013
Sex offender found dead in prison
"A prisoner has died in a suspected suicide after being found unconscious inside his cell in Maghaberry jail
Convicted sex offender GS, 42, was pronounced dead on Monday evening, the NI Prison Service announced.
He had been moved to an ambulance after being found collapsed in his cell.
It is understood a ligature was also discovered in the cell.
S had only been returned to jail on Saturday for a breach of a Sex Offences Prevention Order (SOPO)."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/sex-offender-found-dead-in-prison-29249404.html
*****
Eau Claire swim coach drowned himself after child porn arrest
http://on-suicides-deaths.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/eau-claire-swim-coach-drowned-himself.html
Sex offender found dead in prison
"A prisoner has died in a suspected suicide after being found unconscious inside his cell in Maghaberry jail
Convicted sex offender GS, 42, was pronounced dead on Monday evening, the NI Prison Service announced.
He had been moved to an ambulance after being found collapsed in his cell.
It is understood a ligature was also discovered in the cell.
S had only been returned to jail on Saturday for a breach of a Sex Offences Prevention Order (SOPO)."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/sex-offender-found-dead-in-prison-29249404.html
*****
Eau Claire swim coach drowned himself after child porn arrest
http://on-suicides-deaths.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/eau-claire-swim-coach-drowned-himself.html
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
May Also Defeat The Purpose Of The Registry Itself
May 01, 2013
Child safety activist questions the wisdom of sex offender laws
"An early advocate of sex offender registration laws has expressed doubts about the increasing severity of such laws in recent years.
Eleven-year-old son Jacob Wetterling made national headlines after he was abducted at gunpoint in 1989 and never seen again. In the years following the abduction, Jacob's mother, Patty Wetterling, was instrumental in the widespread enactment of sex offender registration laws in the United States. In a recent interview, however, Wetterling explained her growing concerns about how these laws have evolved and the negative impact they may be having on public safety -- as well as on many of the individuals required to register as sex offenders. Given Wetterling's personal history, her criticisms of the current sex offender laws carry particular weight.
The Jacob Wetterling Act
The Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Act was passed in 1994, requiring each state to maintain a registry of convicted sex offenders and their whereabouts after they are being release from prison. At first, the law allowed states to decide for themselves whether to make the information in the registry publicly available. Two years later, however, Congress passed an amendment, known as Megan's Law, which requires states to notify community members when a registered sex offender moves into an area.
As described by City Pages, an alternative news weekly in Minnesota, Wetterling's home state, early sex offender registration laws were vastly different from those in effect today, and their application was substantially more limited. In their original form, sex offender registration laws were to be used only by law enforcement as a tool for narrowing down potential suspects. Over time, however, these laws have grown increasingly punitive and expansive in their scope -- to such an extent that Wetterling herself has grown increasingly critical of them."
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1218886
Child safety activist questions the wisdom of sex offender laws
"An early advocate of sex offender registration laws has expressed doubts about the increasing severity of such laws in recent years.
Eleven-year-old son Jacob Wetterling made national headlines after he was abducted at gunpoint in 1989 and never seen again. In the years following the abduction, Jacob's mother, Patty Wetterling, was instrumental in the widespread enactment of sex offender registration laws in the United States. In a recent interview, however, Wetterling explained her growing concerns about how these laws have evolved and the negative impact they may be having on public safety -- as well as on many of the individuals required to register as sex offenders. Given Wetterling's personal history, her criticisms of the current sex offender laws carry particular weight.
The Jacob Wetterling Act
The Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Act was passed in 1994, requiring each state to maintain a registry of convicted sex offenders and their whereabouts after they are being release from prison. At first, the law allowed states to decide for themselves whether to make the information in the registry publicly available. Two years later, however, Congress passed an amendment, known as Megan's Law, which requires states to notify community members when a registered sex offender moves into an area.
As described by City Pages, an alternative news weekly in Minnesota, Wetterling's home state, early sex offender registration laws were vastly different from those in effect today, and their application was substantially more limited. In their original form, sex offender registration laws were to be used only by law enforcement as a tool for narrowing down potential suspects. Over time, however, these laws have grown increasingly punitive and expansive in their scope -- to such an extent that Wetterling herself has grown increasingly critical of them."
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1218886
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Out Of The Mouths ...
Saturday 6 April 2013
Accused of child abuse: A family's story
"Julie and Keiron were adjusting to life with their new baby. She worked at home, he was soon to start a new job as a nanny. Then, one day, the police came to the door ...
'A Kafkaesque nightmare is beginning to unfold. I am being arrested' ... Keiron with Julie and Sam
Julie's story
It's a Tuesday like any other. Then, in the afternoon, there's a knock at the door. The dog starts barking and wakes our 12-week-old baby, Sam. My partner, Keiron, looks out of the upstairs window to see two women at the front door. We assume they are Jehovah's Witnesses and Keiron leans out, saying he can't come down. Then everything changes. The women are police. They work in child protection services. Keiron, Sam and I go downstairs to find out what's going on. They tell us to sit down and ask Keiron if he knows why they are here. He says no. Then they tell us an allegation about a sex offence made by a child at the nursery where he works."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/apr/06/accused-of-child-abuse-police?INTCMP=SRCH
Accused of child abuse: A family's story
"Julie and Keiron were adjusting to life with their new baby. She worked at home, he was soon to start a new job as a nanny. Then, one day, the police came to the door ...
'A Kafkaesque nightmare is beginning to unfold. I am being arrested' ... Keiron with Julie and Sam
Julie's story
It's a Tuesday like any other. Then, in the afternoon, there's a knock at the door. The dog starts barking and wakes our 12-week-old baby, Sam. My partner, Keiron, looks out of the upstairs window to see two women at the front door. We assume they are Jehovah's Witnesses and Keiron leans out, saying he can't come down. Then everything changes. The women are police. They work in child protection services. Keiron, Sam and I go downstairs to find out what's going on. They tell us to sit down and ask Keiron if he knows why they are here. He says no. Then they tell us an allegation about a sex offence made by a child at the nursery where he works."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/apr/06/accused-of-child-abuse-police?INTCMP=SRCH
Monday, 18 March 2013
Recoil In Horror
Published on 17/03/2013 09:00
‘Many of them can change, they have to be given a chance’
"Can paedophiles [sic] ‘get better’ and go on to live happy and healthy lives?
Most people would recoil in horror and say definitely not – but the woman in charge of rehabilitating these offenders disagrees.
Elisabeth von Rabenau, who heads up the sex offenders programme in Herts, Beds, Cambs and Peterborough, said: “I wouldn’t necessarily say in every single case but certainly a lot of them can and will if given the chance.
But she said the key is teaching these men – and also a small number of women – to be aware of their own risks and possible triggers for re-offending.
Much like drug or alcohol addicts the potential for relapse never goes away but can be controlled.
“A lot of the men would say ‘I know I would never re-offend’
“Our approach would be to say it is much better if you think of it in terms of this is something I need to manage and monitor for myself on an ongoing basis,” said Elisabeth.
“So there is a good chance that people will not re-offend again but I think people need to remain alert to their own risks and their trigger situations.
Her team – made up of three women and one man – run a series of programmes for sex offenders."
http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/community/many-of-them-can-change-they-have-to-be-given-a-chance-1-4900022
‘Many of them can change, they have to be given a chance’
"Can paedophiles [sic] ‘get better’ and go on to live happy and healthy lives?
Most people would recoil in horror and say definitely not – but the woman in charge of rehabilitating these offenders disagrees.
Elisabeth von Rabenau, who heads up the sex offenders programme in Herts, Beds, Cambs and Peterborough, said: “I wouldn’t necessarily say in every single case but certainly a lot of them can and will if given the chance.
But she said the key is teaching these men – and also a small number of women – to be aware of their own risks and possible triggers for re-offending.
Much like drug or alcohol addicts the potential for relapse never goes away but can be controlled.
“A lot of the men would say ‘I know I would never re-offend’
“Our approach would be to say it is much better if you think of it in terms of this is something I need to manage and monitor for myself on an ongoing basis,” said Elisabeth.
“So there is a good chance that people will not re-offend again but I think people need to remain alert to their own risks and their trigger situations.
Her team – made up of three women and one man – run a series of programmes for sex offenders."
http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/community/many-of-them-can-change-they-have-to-be-given-a-chance-1-4900022
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Growth Industry
9 January 2013 Last updated at 00:38
Birmingham prison: 'More sex offender space needed'
"HMP Birmingham The Victorian jail can cater for up to 1,450 adult male prisoners at a time
The justice minister has been urged to provide extra space at HMP Birmingham to cope with the rising number of sex offenders being sent there.
The Independent Monitoring Board said the jail was struggling to cope with more historical sex offence cases being solved, a rise in internet pornography convictions and more rape prosecutions.
It has now written to Chris Grayling asking for him to investigate urgently."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-20935846
Birmingham prison: 'More sex offender space needed'
"HMP Birmingham The Victorian jail can cater for up to 1,450 adult male prisoners at a time
The justice minister has been urged to provide extra space at HMP Birmingham to cope with the rising number of sex offenders being sent there.
The Independent Monitoring Board said the jail was struggling to cope with more historical sex offence cases being solved, a rise in internet pornography convictions and more rape prosecutions.
It has now written to Chris Grayling asking for him to investigate urgently."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-20935846
Saturday, 5 January 2013
The Cost For This Ill-Thought-Out Policy
Wednesday 2 January 2013
How ‘child protection’ policies harm children
"We all want kids to be safe, but the plan to create a new database of children who visit A&E units will have the opposite effect.
Recent UK government policies aimed at protecting children have been based on an erroneous assumption - namely that intrusive monitoring of intergenerational relations is the only way to keep kids safe. In truth, such policies - including the mandatory vetting of all adults who work with children - are at best a form of PR, designed to demonstrate that officials take child safety seriously; and at worst, they fuel suspicion of all adults, creating an ever-widening cultural chasm between generations. This can actually diminish rather than enhance the security of young people."
http://www.spiked-online.com/site/article/13219/
How not to protect children from abuse
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/01/protect-children-from-abuse
How ‘child protection’ policies harm children
"We all want kids to be safe, but the plan to create a new database of children who visit A&E units will have the opposite effect.
Recent UK government policies aimed at protecting children have been based on an erroneous assumption - namely that intrusive monitoring of intergenerational relations is the only way to keep kids safe. In truth, such policies - including the mandatory vetting of all adults who work with children - are at best a form of PR, designed to demonstrate that officials take child safety seriously; and at worst, they fuel suspicion of all adults, creating an ever-widening cultural chasm between generations. This can actually diminish rather than enhance the security of young people."
http://www.spiked-online.com/site/article/13219/
How not to protect children from abuse
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/01/protect-children-from-abuse
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
This Is Where We Have Come To
Tuesday, December 18 2012
Doctor cleared of sex assaults on women at Kent and Canterbury Hospital
"A hospital anaesthetist has today been cleared of inappropriately touching three women.
Jurors took just over six hours to clear SG, 42, of nine sexual assault allegations at Canterbury Crown Court.
G, who worked at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital and the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, wiped his eyes as the verdicts were delivered.
It followed a week-long trial in which three women claimed Dr G, a respected Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, hugged and touched them inappropriately.
One woman, a hospital worker, claimed she called police because she was afraid her bosses would "brush the matter under the carpet".
But the Indian-born doctor, of Bingley Court, Canterbury, maintained his innocence saying he did not understand the British culture around hugs."
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentish_gazette/news/2012/december/18/doctor_cleared_of_sex_assault.aspx
Doctor cleared of sex assaults on women at Kent and Canterbury Hospital
"A hospital anaesthetist has today been cleared of inappropriately touching three women.
Jurors took just over six hours to clear SG, 42, of nine sexual assault allegations at Canterbury Crown Court.
G, who worked at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital and the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, wiped his eyes as the verdicts were delivered.
It followed a week-long trial in which three women claimed Dr G, a respected Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, hugged and touched them inappropriately.
One woman, a hospital worker, claimed she called police because she was afraid her bosses would "brush the matter under the carpet".
But the Indian-born doctor, of Bingley Court, Canterbury, maintained his innocence saying he did not understand the British culture around hugs."
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentish_gazette/news/2012/december/18/doctor_cleared_of_sex_assault.aspx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)