A report provided findings from a project that examined hate crime, looking at: people's experiences of hate, prejudice, and targeted hostility; the physical and emotional harms suffered by victims and their families; and ways in which to improve the quality of support offered to victims. A series of briefings were published alongside the main findings, together with a 'manifesto', which set out victim-centred recommendations based on the needs and expectations of those whose lives had been directly affected by hate crime.
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Findings and Conclusions, University of Leicester
Links: Report | Summary | Victims manifesto | Project
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Briefing Paper 1: Disablist hate crime, University of Leicester
Links: Paper
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Briefing Paper 2: Gendered hostility, University of Leicester
Links: Paper
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Briefing Paper 3: Homophobic hate crime, University of Leicester
Links: Paper
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Briefing Paper 4: Racist hate crime, University of Leicester
Links: Paper
Source: The Leicester Hate Crime Project, Briefing Paper 5: Religiously motivated hate crime, University of Leicester
Links: Paper
Date: 2014-Sep
An article examined the self-reported rates of exposure of people with disabilities to violent crime, hate crime, and disablist hate crime, drawing on data from the Life Opportunities Survey. It said that: adults with disabilities were significantly more likely to have been exposed over the previous twelve months to violent crime and hate crime than their non-disabled peers; and the differential risk of exposure to violent crime or hate crime was particularly high among those with mental health problems (and, in the case of hate crime, was also high among those people with cognitive impairments). It said that these effects were strongly moderated by poverty status, with no increased differential risk of exposure among more wealthy respondents with disabilities.
Source: Eric Emerson and Alan Roulstone, 'Developing an evidence base for violent and disablist hate crime in Britain: findings from the Life Opportunities Survey', Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Volume 29 Number 17
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Sep
The government announced a range of measures to improve the experience of victims within the criminal justice system. The proposals included: a nationwide Victims' Information Service, to be introduced by March 2015; measures to improve the experience of court for vulnerable victims, including training for publicly funded advocates and greater provision for victims to give evidence to court from alternative locations; greater accountability of criminal justice agencies; legislation to guarantee key entitlements for victims, including a right to speak in court about the impact of harm caused by the crime; and a new regime for paying compensation (subject to consultation).
Source: Our Commitment to Victims, Ministry of Justice
Links: Paper | MOJ press release | Guardian report | Guardian report
Date: 2014-Sep
An article examined evidence regarding the ethnic/religious patterning of reports of different forms of racist victimization and how they had varied over time.
Source: Saffron Karlsen and James Nazroo, 'Ethnic and religious variations in the reporting of racist victimization in Britain: 2000 and 2008/2009', Patterns of Prejudice, Volume 48 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Sep
A new book examined the socio-political context in which particular groups of victims had been prioritized by United Kingdom policy-makers, and considered the changing role and status of the victim in contemporary criminal justice discourses. It explored how certain forms of victimization, or types of victims, had been targeted, and examined how such targeting had been used to further punitive political agendas.
Source: Marian Duggan and Vicky Heap, Administrating Victimization: The politics of anti-social behaviour and hate crime policy, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Aug
A paper discussed the apparent limit of defendants' 'effective participation' at Crown Court, drawing on a study that examined the experiences and levels of understanding of victims, witnesses, and defendants of court cases.
Source: Amy Kirby, Jessica Jacobson, and Gillian Hunter, Effective Participation or Passive Acceptance: How can defendants participate more effectively in the court process?, Working Paper 9/2014, Howard League for Penal Reform
Links: Paper
Date: 2014-Aug
A new book examined the experiences of veiled Muslim women as victims of Islamophobia, and the impact of this victimization. It said that the threat of abuse and violence had long-lasting effects for both actual and potential victims, and that there was a case for developing a more effective approach to engaging with female victims that recognized their potential multiple vulnerabilities and accounted for their cultural and religious needs.
Source: Irene Zempi and Neil Chakraborti, Islamophobia, Victimisation and the Veil, Palgrave Pivot
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Aug
A new book examined the use of restorative justice in domestic violence cases, drawing on findings from the first stage of a European Union-funded project that aimed to generate and pilot new knowledge on practices in this field, and to identify criteria for offering restorative approaches to such cases.
Source: Grace Loseby, Andriana Ntziadima, and Theo Gavrielides, Restorative Justice and Domestic Violence: A critical review, Independent Academic Research Studies
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Aug
An article examined the psychological and physical impacts of hate crime across seven victim types, drawing on quantitative and qualitative data from the All Wales Hate Crime project.
Source: Matthew Williams and Jasmin Tregidga, 'Hate crime victimization in Wales: psychological and physical impacts across seven hate crime victim types', British Journal of Criminology, Volume 54 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Aug
An article examined victimization of sexual minority status groups across British Crime Surveys from 2007-2010. It said that these groups were more likely than heterosexuals to be victimized from any and some specific crimes, but people who were bisexual were more consistently victimized than lesbians or gay men.
Source: Bere Mahoney, Michelle Davies, and Laura Scurlock-Evans, 'Victimization among female and male sexual minority status groups: evidence from the British Crime Survey 2007-2010', Journal of Homosexuality, Volume 61 Issue 10
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Aug
The Modern Slavery Bill was given a second reading. The Bill was designed to consolidate and simplify existing slavery and trafficking offences; increase the maximum sentence available; introduce Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders and Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders; create a new Anti-Slavery Commissioner role; and establish a legal duty to report potential victims of trafficking to the National Crime Agency.
Source: Modern Slavery Bill, Home Office, TSO | Debate 8 July 2014, columns 166-260, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard
Date: 2014-Jul
A new book examined the use of restorative justice in repairing the harm created by criminal offences. The book explored the development of empathy and compassion across the 'timeline' of restorative justice, from the committed offence, through the criminal justice process, to the restorative meeting, drawing on United Kingdom case studies.
Source: Pete Wallis, Understanding Restorative Justice: How empathy can close the gap created by crime, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Jul
A report provided findings from an analysis of data from the MAMA Project, which monitored and recorded incidents of anti-Muslim prejudice.
Source: Matthew Feldman and Mark Littler, Tell MAMA Reporting 2013-14: Anti-Muslim overview, analysis and 'cumulative extremism', Centre for Fascist, Anti-fascist and Post-fascist Studies (Teesside University)
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Jul
A paper outlined strategy in London for addressing gang violence and reducing the harm caused by gangs to individuals and communities in the city.
Source: Strategic Ambitions for London: Gangs and serious youth violence, Mayor of London
Links: Strategy document | Summary
Date: 2014-Jun
A report examined the concept and application of 'community justice' in England and Wales, drawing on findings from a policy review, a review of existing data on civic participation, and empirical research on community activism in four deprived neighbourhoods (in north-east London, Bristol, Nottingham, and south Wales). The report concluded that 'community justice' was a worthwhile policy aspiration (if conceived largely as a matter of nurturing community spirit and informal social control) but it was difficult to promote the active participation of communities in the design or delivery of criminal justice services.
Source: Jessica Jacobson, Oonagh Skrine, Amy Kirby, and Gillian Hunter, Crime and 'Community': Exploring the scope for community involvement in criminal justice, Institute for Criminal Policy Research (Birkbeck, University of London)
Links: Report | ICPR press release
Date: 2014-Jun
The Modern Slavery Bill was published. The Bill was designed to: consolidate and strengthen existing powers to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking; improve support for those harmed; increase maximum sentences; enable courts to order financial redress for victims; introduce prevention and risk orders to restrict the activity of individuals who posed a risk of harm; and create a new anti-slavery commissioner.
Source: Modern Slavery Bill, Home Office, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Supplementary documents | Home Office/Wales Office press release
Date: 2014-Jun
An article examined the treatment of victims of crime in European Union member states, arguing that the protections afforded varied between states and were insufficient to protect the rights of victims.
Source: Carmen Rasquete, Ana Ferreira, and Frederico Moyano Marques, 'Why do we need concrete measures for victims at EU level? A view from the coalface', ERA Forum, Volume 15 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jun
An article examined midlife outcomes of childhood bullying victimization, drawing on data from the National Child Development Study. It said that people who were bullied in childhood, and especially those who were frequently victimized, continued to be at risk for poor social, health, and economic outcomes almost forty years later. It called for better preventive interventions.
Source: Ryu Takizawa, Barbara Maughan, and Louise Arseneault, 'Adult health outcomes of childhood bullying victimization: evidence from a five-decade longitudinal British birth cohort', American Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 171 Number 7
Links: Abstract | Article | BBC report
Date: 2014-Jun
The Queen's Speech set out the United Kingdom coalition government's legislative programme for 2014-15. It included plans for a Modern Slavery Bill to: consolidate and strengthen existing powers to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking; improve support for those harmed; increase maximum sentences; enable courts to order financial redress for victims; introduce prevention and risk orders to restrict the activity of individuals who posed a risk of harm; and create a new anti-slavery commissioner.
Source: Queen's Speech, 4 June 2014, columns 1-4, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Hansard | Prime Ministers Office briefing | Cabinet Office guidance | PMO/DPMO press release | Home Office press release | Northern Ireland Office press release | Scotland Office press release | Wales Office press release | Childrens Society press release | Prison Reform Trust press release | Scottish Government press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2014-Jun
A new book examined current thinking, practice, and research into the use of restorative justice in the area of family violence, including sexual violence and elder abuse. The book presented empirical studies from New Zealand, and perspectives on practices in the United Kingdom, Australia, and North America.
Source: Anne Hayden, Venezia Kingi, and Allison Morris, A Restorative Approach to Family Violence: Changing tack, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Jun
A new book examined the factors that contributed to victims' appreciation of restorative practices, and considered why restorative justice 'worked' for victims of violent crimes.
Source: Tinneke Van Camp, Victims of Violence and Restorative Practices: Finding a voice, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Jun
A new book examined bullying in schools, drawing on research evidence from Europe, North America, Australasia, and Asia.
Source: Peter Smith, Understanding School Bullying: Its nature and prevention strategies, SAGE Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Jun
The government responded to a report by a joint committee of MPs and peers on the draft Modern Slavery Bill.
Source: The Government Response to the Report from the Joint Committee on the Draft Modern Slavery Bill Session 2013-14 HL Paper 166/HC 1019: Draft Modern Slavery Bill, Cm 8889, Home Office, TSO
Date: 2014-Jun
An article examined whether targeted attacks on 'alternative subculture' members warranted classification as hate crimes. Drawing on qualitative interviews with respondents mostly affiliated to the 'Goth scene', it said that they experienced extensive verbal harassment and, for some respondents, repeated incidents of targeted violence. The article argued that such experiences bore comparison with key facets of hate crime.
Source: Jon Garland and Paul Hodkinson, '"F**king freak! What the hell do you think you look like?" Experiences of targeted victimization among Goths and developing notions of hate crime', British Journal of Criminology, Volume 54 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jun
An article highlighted the utility of a more detailed analysis of crime statistics in providing information on the patterns of crime against children, based on Northern Ireland data. It said that violent crime differentially affected older children, and detection rates varied depending on case characteristics. It called for crime-recording practice to make child victims of crime more visible, and to facilitate assessment of the effectiveness of existing initiatives and policy developments.
Source: Lisa Bunting, 'Invisible victims: recorded crime and children in the UK', Child Abuse Review, Volume 23 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jun
A report provided a summary from a series of seminars that examined how to prevent child sexual abuse and how better to support children who had experienced it. The report considered intra-familial sexual abuse, peer-to-peer abuse and harmful sexual behaviour, and the prevention of sexual abuse within institutions. It made a range of recommendations to government, including: for greater clarity on information sharing; for greater prioritization of work regarding harmful sexual behaviour; for more specialized training for social workers and teachers; and for better and more consistent support for children and young people who were harmed by abuse.
Source: Recommendations for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Better Support for Victims, Child Protection All Party Parliamentary Group
Links: Report | NSPCC press release
Date: 2014-May
A report examined women's experiences of poor mental health and well-being, and their experiences within the mental health system in England, with a focus on women who had experienced sexual violence, black and minority-ethnic women, and women affected by HIV. It said that, overall, the integration of need in policy processes and structures was inconsistent, and that there was a clear need for a consistent, gender-specific approach in the commissioning and delivery of mental health services. The report made a range of recommendations.
Source: 'I Am More Than One Thing': A guiding paper by Imkaan, Positively UK and Rape Crisis England and Wales on women and mental health, Imkaan/Positively UK/Rape Crisis England and Wales
Date: 2014-May
A new book examined the nature of hate crime victimization and perpetration, and discussed the need for research and professional innovation to contribute to the development of policy and practice.
Source: Neil Chakraborti and Jon Garland, Responding to Hate Crime: The case for connecting policy and research, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-May
An article examined restorative justice research and practice within the context of race. It noted a lack of work in this area and suggested a conceptual model for further pilots and research.
Source: Theo Gavrielides, 'Bringing race relations into the restorative justice debate: an alternative and personalized vision of "the other"', Journal of Black Studies, Volume 45 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-May
The Welsh Government published a report that explored the response to hate crimes and incidents in Wales. The report said that future work would be guided by the three strategic objectives of: prevention; support for people harmed by hate crimes and incidents; and the improvement of the multi-agency response. A development plan was published at the same time.
Source: Tackling Hate Crimes and Incidents: A framework for action, Welsh Government
Links: Report | Development plan | Welsh Government press release
Date: 2014-May
A new book examined the causes and consequences of hate crime victimization, and the use of restorative justice to repair the harms created by hate crime in the United Kingdom.
Source: Mark Austin Walters, Hate Crime and Restorative Justice: Exploring causes, repairing harms, Oxford University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Apr
An article examined the impact of crime and fear of crime on health and well-being, drawing on a systematic review. It said that there were complex and often indirect links between crime, fear of crime, environment, and health and well-being at both individual and population levels. Fear was associated with poorer health outcomes, although there was some debate about the measurement of this. The review had found little evidence that street lighting improvements, closed-circuit television, multicomponent environmental crime prevention programmes, or regeneration programmes reduced fear of crime, and the results around housing initiatives were mixed. The article concluded that broader social interventions appeared more effective than those focused on crime, and that crime and fear of crime appeared to be linked to health and well-being mainly as aspects of socio-economic disadvantage.
Source: Theo Lorenc, Mark Petticrew, Margaret Whitehead, David Neary, Stephen Clayton, Kath Wright, Hilary Thomson, Steven Cummins, Amanda Sowden, and Adrian Renton, 'Crime, fear of crime and mental health: synthesis of theory and systematic reviews of interventions and qualitative evidence', Public Health Research, Volume 2 Issue 2
Date: 2014-Apr
An article examined victim and offender identities in discourses around child sexual abuse. It said that policy was constructed around social and political constructions of victimhood and offending behaviour that should be re-examined.
Source: Anne-Marie McAlinden, 'Deconstructing victim and offender identities in discourses on child sexual abuse: hierarchies, blame and the good/evil dialectic', British Journal of Criminology, Volume 54 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Apr
An article examined the use of a restorative model for reducing recidivism, and considered the notional differences between ethical normative, prudential normative, and social normative models of restorative justice, rehabilitation, and desistance respectively.
Source: Tony Ward, Kathryn Fox, and Melissa Garber, 'Restorative justice, offender rehabilitation and desistance', Restorative Justice, Volume 2 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Apr
A report examined bullying on dedicated school transport. It called for better training for transport staff, CCTV monitoring, mentoring or volunteer chaperone schemes, inclusion of the issue in school bullying policies, and greater clarity over responsibility for action.
Source: Paul Vodden, The Vodden Report: Report of an online survey to assess bullying on dedicated school buses, Paul Vodden
Links: Report | Kidscape press release
Date: 2014-Apr
An article examined intervention programmes for female victims and survivors of domestic abuse in the UK. It said that clients who had experienced abuse were increasingly referred to these interventions by professionals. The article discussed key aspects of the programmes and criticisms of this type of intervention.
Source: Emma Williamson and Hilary Abrahams, 'A review of the provision of intervention programs for female victims and survivors of domestic abuse in the United Kingdom', Affilia, Volume 29 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Apr
A report evaluated the set-up, delivery and perceived effects of Neighbourhood Justice Panels, a form of restorative justice conferencing that aimed to bring local victims and perpetrators together, using restorative and reparative approaches. The research had found that panel meeting attendance varied across the areas and depended on the nature of the case, and that the use of a dedicated NJP co-ordinator was key to helping victims to understand the process. Overall, the report said that the NJPs were felt to be a useful addition to the range of restorative justice approaches, with the capacity to reduce costs by diverting cases from the criminal justice system. However, strategic and operational support and engagement, funding for a dedicated NJP co-ordinator, and rigorous selection and training of volunteers were all important factors in effective delivery. Although participants had suggested including offences currently out of scope, such as domestic violence or hate crime, the report said that this was not currently under consideration.
Source: Caroline Turley, Jane Kerr, Tom Kenny, Ian Simpson, and Jasmin Keeble, Process Evaluation of the Neighbourhood Justice Panels, Ministry of Justice
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Mar
A report by an all party parliamentary group said that many women experiencing domestic violence did not have access to justice and that the criminal justice system frequently failed to hold perpetrators of domestic violence to account. 89 per cent of respondents to the APPG inquiry had thought there were barriers to women disclosing domestic violence to the police and/or other criminal justice agencies. The report made recommendations, including: for better collection of data relating to domestic violence; for domestic violence awareness training for all front line police officers and justice officials; and for government to review, and close gaps in, the existing legislation around domestic violence.
Source: Sian Hawkins and Clare Laxton, Women's Access to Justice: From reporting to sentencing, All Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic and Sexual Violence
Links: Report | Womens Aid press release
Date: 2014-Mar
A report provided results from a study of violence against women, based on interviews with 42,000 women across the member states of the European Union. Women were asked about their experiences of physical, sexual, and psychological violence, including domestic (or 'intimate partner') violence, stalking, and sexual harassment, as well as the role of new technologies in their abuse. The survey also asked about their experiences of violence in childhood. The report said that 33 per cent of women had experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15, and that one in 20 women had been the victim of rape. There were differences between member states in the reported levels of harm. The report called for a victim-centred and rights-centred approach to be reinforced at the EU and member state level, and made recommendations for action including legislation, training, resourcing, specialist support, and better, harmonised data.
Source: Violence Against Women: An EU-wide survey – main results, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
Links: Report | Factsheet | Summary | Technical report | FRA press release | Citizens Advice press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined findings from an evaluation of a specialized youth service for young people who had experienced or been affected by domestic abuse in one town in Scotland. The findings suggested that one-to-one support and group work sessions facilitated a better understanding of domestic abuse and helped young people in working through their feelings and making new friends. The analysis also suggested that young people valued the specialist services provided, perceiving them as different from other youth work services. The arguments in favour of specialist services were said to be compelling, yet caution was called for in order to avoid creating dependency. There were also calls for improved communication and understanding among participating partner agencies.
Source: Annette Coburn and Sinead Gormally, '"They know what you are going through": a service response to young people who have experienced the impact of domestic abuse', Journal of Youth Studies, Volume 17 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
A report provided the findings from a review of ways to reduce the distress of victims in trials of sexual violence. The report made recommendations about the conduct of trials, the treatment of victims, and provisions regarding jurors. The government said that the report would shape key initiatives in the next phase of criminal justice reform.
Source: Report on Review of Ways to Reduce Distress of Victims in Trials of Sexual Violence, Ministry of Justice
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Mar
A report examined the experience and impact of intimate partner (or domestic) violence in the United Kingdom. It said that 88 per cent of respondents to a survey thought the criminal justice system did not take psychological harm into account, yet 94 per cent said that mental cruelty could sometimes be worse than physical violence. 57 per cent of women who reported to police reported more than three instances of domestic violence, but 81 per cent said the criminal justice system did not take any pattern of abuse into account. The report called for legislative reform to capture the nature and harm of domestic violence and to recognize its gendered nature.
Source: Domestic Violence Law Reform – The Victim's Voice Survey: Victim's experience of domestic violence and the criminal justice system, Women's Aid/Sara Charlton Charitable Foundation/Paladin
Links: Report | Womens Aid press release
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the victim personal statement (VPS) policy in England and Wales, to evaluate what factors influenced whether victims were informed of the VPS, and what influenced victims' decisions to provide one.
Source: Jeanna Mastrocinque, 'Victim personal statements: an analysis of notification and utilization', Criminology and Criminal Justice, Volume 14 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
The police service inspectorate said that the police response to victims of domestic abuse had improved over the previous ten years, but there were still weaknesses in the service provided to victims by some forces, of which some could be regarded as serious and leaving victims at unnecessary risk. It said that domestic abuse was often a priority on paper, but this was not translating into operational practice in most forces, and there was an urgent need to improve the police response. The report outlined a range of contributing factors, and made recommendations.
Source: Everyone's Business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary
Links: Report | Individual force reports | HMIC press release | Home Office press release | Written ministerial statement | 4Children press release | ACPO press release | Police Federation press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2014-Mar
A study examined the experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people in Manchester, a city in the north of England. The first report from the study examined community safety. It said that hate crime was commonly experienced (almost half of LGB people) but went unreported in over 60 per cent of cases. The study had found gaps in the evidence base around victimization and the report recommended better monitoring of the sexual orientation of service users by public services across the city, as well as improved targeting of services and cross-agency work to increase the reporting of homophobic and biphobic hate crime.
Source: Community Safety: The state of the city for Manchester's lesbian, gay and bisexual communities, Lesbian and Gay Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Feb
A report provided a summary of discussions from a conference on the the impact of online stalking and harassment on women. It said that the impact was underestimated by all statutory services and that the responses from the police, criminal justice system, and social media providers were considered to be inadequate. The report called for online abuse, harassment, and stalking to be considered and dealt with as part of the spectrum of domestic violence offences. It recommended for the government action plan on violence against women and girls to be updated, for social media providers to take action, and for guidance and training for people working in the criminal justice system.
Source: Clare Laxton, Virtual World, Real Fear: Women's Aid report into online abuse, harassment and stalking, Women's Aid Federation of England
Date: 2014-Feb
A report examined human smuggling and trafficking across Europe. It said that people were trafficked from across the world, often through the primary transit routes that were used for trade. It said that the barriers to entry in Europe had led to the creation of a variety of 'facilitators', both those who were organized and willing participants, and others who unwittingly aided the process. It said there was a problem of corruption among officials. The report called upon policy makers to address the demand for migrants through education, prevention, prosecution, and improvements in labour laws, and for countries to harmonize their efforts.
Source: Louise Shelley, Human Smuggling and Trafficking into Europe: A comparative perspective, Migration Policy Institute
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Feb
A report examined children and young people's mobile use of the internet in seven countries (Demark, Italy, Romania, United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, and Belgium). It said that there was an increasing awareness of online risks among parents and children, but exposure to risks had increased compared with the 2010 data, as a result of more opportunities for being online through smartphone and tablet use. However, the report concluded that, although such exposure was increasing, the proportion of those who were then harmed was not.
Source: Giovanna Mascheroni and Kjartan Olafsson, Net Children Go Mobile: Risks and opportunities, Educatt
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Feb
An article examined the findings of a large-scale project on the sexual exploitation of young people, undertaken in Northern Ireland from 2009 to 2011.
Source: Helen Beckett and Dirk Schubotz, 'Young people's self-reported experiences of sexual exploitation and sexual violence: a view from Northern Ireland', Journal of Youth Studies, Volume 17 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Feb
A report provided the findings from a series of focus groups with alleged victims of abuse by the late entertainer, Jimmy Savile. The focus groups examined the issues that prevented them from reporting events to the police at the time, and how the police might improve their management of the reporting process and subsequent interviews and contacts. The report said that there was a wide range of factors influencing non-reporting, but many said they had thought they would not be believed, and many of those who did disclose events at the time had been ignored or ridiculed. The report highlighted the long-term impact of abuse.
Source: Louise Exton and Kamaljit Thandi, Would They Actually Have Believed Me? A focus group exploration of the underreporting of crimes by Jimmy Savile, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Links: Report | NSPCC press release | BBC report
Date: 2014-Feb
A study examined policy and practice on anti-social behaviour in Wales. It examined: the practices of social landlords; areas in which landlords might improve practice; and the effectiveness of Welsh government policy and guidance in supporting this work. The report highlighted the importance of partnership/collaborative working, early intervention, communication (with victims and perpetrators), and consistency, and noted the difficulty in evaluating both the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of outcomes. The report made recommendations.
Source: Anne Delaney, David Hedges, Simon Inkson, and Joanne McNally, Wales Anti-social Behaviour: Policy and practice review, Welsh Government
Links: Report | Summary | Welsh Government press release
Date: 2014-Feb
A study examined the experiences of children and young people on social networking sites. The report said that over one in four of children aged 11-16 had experienced something upsetting over the past year, with some taking weeks or months to get over the experience. While more girls than boys reported being upset, the experiences that they had also differed. The report said that children seemed unable to raise their concerns effectively and just 22 per cent had talked to someone about upsetting experiences. It called for more to be done by social networking sites to keep young people safe online and to ensure that reporting and privacy options were easy to use.
Source: Claire Lilley, Ruth Ball, and Heather Vernon, The Experiences of 11-16 Year Olds on Social Networking Sites, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Links: Report | NSPCC press release
Date: 2014-Feb
A report examined the definition and recording of reported honour based violence (HBV) cases in the United Kingdom, based on Freedom of Information requests to police forces. It said that there was inconsistency between forces in what was included under the heading, and that 20 per cent of forces failed to flag all HBV cases reported to them. While welcoming earlier work by the Association of Chief Police Officers, it said that no HBV review or action plan had been published since the 2008 HBV Strategy. The report made a range of recommendations, including: the development of a clearer definition of HBV; better partnership working to safeguard women and girls; and greater consistency in, and formalization of, recording of HBV.
Source: Postcode Lottery: Police recording of reported honour based violence, Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation
Links: Report | IKWRO press release | ACPO press release
Date: 2014-Feb
The Northern Ireland Executive began consultation on their proposed strategy to enhance services, protection and support for victims and witnesses of domestic and sexual violence and abuse, and to improve responses against perpetrators. The strategy contained five key strands: collaborative working; prevention and early intervention; delivering change; support for those affected; and protection and justice. The consultation would close on 11 April 2014.
Source: Stopping Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse in Northern Ireland 2013-2020, Northern Ireland Executive
Links: Consultation document | Associated documents | NIE press release
Date: 2014-Jan