tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post5298401175137296384..comments2024-03-29T06:40:58.606+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: A MasterclassJim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-74280318611316633642013-05-04T07:37:25.414+01:002013-05-04T07:37:25.414+01:00Ian,
Yes I'm sure that in the end it was the...Ian, <br /><br />Yes I'm sure that in the end it was the sheer number of victims that made Stuart Hall change his mind. But they only felt able to come forward because they knew he'd been arrested, and it looks like post Leveson the police are moving the goal posts. Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-10062523467502047082013-05-03T10:26:16.030+01:002013-05-03T10:26:16.030+01:00Much has been made elsewhere of the age of these a...Much has been made elsewhere of the age of these alleged offences and the difficulty of ensuring a fair trial. I think that the reaction of Stuart Hall points to what may well be the pragmatic way forward. By the very nature of things, those at present being investigated or awaiting trial, have no previous experience of standing in the dock, or of going through the prison gate as a "nonce". When faced with the fact that their victims WILL attend and give evidence, they may well follow the advice of their advocate that if the charges are well-founded, it is better to admit them and avoid the heavier penalty that conviction after trial would inevitably bring.Ian Hurdleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322290011259357106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-56725132030086736172013-05-02T14:59:46.392+01:002013-05-02T14:59:46.392+01:00I shan't lose any sleep over them sleeping une...I shan't lose any sleep over them sleeping uneasily, Jim, but perhaps we are finally waking up to the fact, that no only are there far more abusers than previously imagined, but that they are drawn to those occupations where a) they will have ready access to children whilst b) enjoying sufficient power and prestige to discourage anyone looking too closely into "slanderous innuendo", and to cover each other's backs.Ian Hurdleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322290011259357106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-56745978110419873782013-05-02T07:55:51.024+01:002013-05-02T07:55:51.024+01:00A lot more to come yet Rob, especially politicians...A lot more to come yet Rob, especially politicians. It seems to be taking more time, but the shit will have to hit the fan eventually. Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-52519521679845952292013-05-01T17:05:11.536+01:002013-05-01T17:05:11.536+01:00Another high profile celebrity arrest today. Must ...Another high profile celebrity arrest today. Must have messed up in a previous life.....Rob Palmernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-38027388105524378772013-04-30T20:16:42.404+01:002013-04-30T20:16:42.404+01:00Ian,
I agree, but the public had better brace the...Ian,<br /><br />I agree, but the public had better brace themselves for some truly shocking revelations concerning the sheer scope and amount of historic cases yet to emerge. Quite a few public figures are going to be sleeping uneasily in the coming months.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />JimJim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-46297751086252322092013-04-30T20:13:06.064+01:002013-04-30T20:13:06.064+01:00Well, just as attitudes changed about domestic vio...Well, just as attitudes changed about domestic violence, so they are changing in relation to sex offending. There's further to go, for instance in recognising that men can be victims of domestic violence and that women can be sex offenders. To a certain extent, the police have always been a bit behind, but have made enormous progress in recent years.<br /><br />The public are in for a big shock in the coming months as they learn just how prevalent sex offending and child sexual abuse has been for many years, but mostly swept under the carpet for a whole host of reasons. The pendulum has to swing a bit further in my view in order to clear a vast historic backlog. Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-10221920203152805512013-04-30T11:47:41.290+01:002013-04-30T11:47:41.290+01:00I think that an important reason for failure to ta...I think that an important reason for failure to take victims' accounts seriously in years gone by, is that there was an assumption that paedophilia was so repugnant to people that it MUST be a very, very rare form of sexual deviance. Therefore, these things could not be happening, and therefore did not merit proper investigation.<br />A person I know was a member of an all-female Child Protection Unit (women's work after all) in the 80's. They uncovered an extensive network of a users, but were simply not believed; they were dismissed as over-emotional women with vivid imaginations.Ian Hurdleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322290011259357106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-25243965560453635482013-04-30T09:43:58.039+01:002013-04-30T09:43:58.039+01:00I suppose the problem is the pendulum: it now swi...I suppose the problem is the pendulum: it now swings towards the victim, but where will it be next year? I am not so confident that police practice has improved in its fundamentals. I think of the fanfare that accompanied the so-called Sapphire unit intended to herald a new beginning in dealing with female victims of sexual crimes. From what I read Sapphire has been a catalogue of errors, indifference and incompetence since it's inception. The 'brand' is so damaged they are thinking of renaming it. <br /><br />We know the police and CPS abjectly failed in respect of Saville. The fact that we are now seeing prosecutions of alleged historic offences has little to do with great improvements or cultural shifts in police practice. When the spotlight is on you tend to perform because you are being watched. <br /><br />I have some sympathy with those who are subject to police inquiries. Why should their name be dragged through the mud by the mere fact of an arrest? It becomes a diferent matter if charged as there should be no right to anonymity, especially concerning alleged sex crimes because, as Saville reaffirms, publicity may give other victims the confidence to come forward. <br /><br />'On New Year's Eve 2010, the day after Jefferies was erroneously arrested on suspicion of the murder of 25-year-old Joanna Yeates, a tenant in the building he still lives in and owns, and from where he talks today, the Sun reported its take on "The strange Mr Jefferies". Similarly, the Daily Mail splashed with "Murder police quiz 'nutty professor' with a blue rinse" and the Daily Mirror told its 1.2 million readers: "Jo suspect is Peeping Tom". The stories in the Sun and the Daily Mirror explained how the retired English literature teacher scared children and was obsessed with death; one paper, in the words of the Leveson counsel, Robert Jay, linked him with a past murder and a paedophile.' <br />( http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/nov/24/christopher-jefferies-leveson-press-inquiry)<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com