Wednesday 27 August 2008

BBC NEWS | Wales | Sex abuse compensation 'insult'


To follow on from a previous post regarding the compensation levels for this and many other types of crime, comes further confirmation of that premise that the blame the victim culture is not just an urban myth and that those who a victims of miscarriages of justice or injured at work are more likely to be treat fairly than the victims of sexual crimes.

'The mother of a Cardiff girl assaulted at the age of three by the paedophile Craig Sweeney has confirmed the family has been offered £9,000 compensation.
The woman has described the offer as "the final insult" saying it does not compensate her daughter for the ordeal. '

And I am sure that, right now, this morning, there are more insults landing on the mat for lots of other victims, struggling to rebuild their lives after falling into the hands of these predators.

In a statement, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority said: "We cannot comment specifically on applications made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, in order to protect applicants' confidentiality.

"CICA operates under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2001, as set down by Parliament. The scheme sets the levels of compensation depending on the injuries sustained.

"We pay awards under a tariff system that assigns each specific injury a fixed amount of compensation. Awards under this tariff range from £1,000 to £250,000."

Note that the one thing missing from this statement, the word sorry.
Even if their hands are tied by the poorly considered decisions of Parliament, they could express the notion that they themselves are not happy with these restraints.

It is this hiding behind the official line and that you are not an individual but just another case number which re enforces the ideas and feelings of victim blaming and inequality.

I am pleased that Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan said she felt the strict tariff system needed examination, but any changes are long over due and, even if Parliament will admit that the levels of compensation are woefully inadequate, these changes will probably be a long way into the future.

BBC NEWS | Wales | Sex abuse compensation 'insult'

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Friday 22 August 2008

"Pisst!" Wanna ID Card mate?"


'PA Consulting is one of the companies that has been involved in developing the government's controversial ID card scheme - opposed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.'

And opposed by any sensible inhabitant of this country as well!!

"Pisst!" Wanna ID Card mate?"

'A risk assessment was being carried out about the data that was missing, alongside the internal inquiry into what had happened, she said.' (Home Secretary Jacqui Smith )

Wooo! A risk assessment! That will show 'em!

I used to do risk assessments on the kids I used to work with. You know the sort of stuff, can this child be trusted with a large kitchen knife or to go to the shops that sort of thing.

Anyone want to do one on this government?

Can this administration be trusted with (fill in the blank with your own suggestion) ?

BBC NEWS | Politics | Firm 'broke rules' over data loss

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Friday 15 August 2008

So you went out got yourself raped then did you love? Were you drinking?. The sound of air being sucked over teeth.

This is another example of the attitude towards victims of these sexual crimes.

The mindset of blame and punish the victim starts with the police and proceeds all the way through the CPS, the courts and finally, as we see now, with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

The standard £11,000 award seem paltry when compared to the levels of compensation paid out to victims of miscarriages of justice or police officers involved with a 'harrowing and dangerous assignment'.

'It's been a huge strain on family relationships and the fact the whole way through the police and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority have insinuated that I was to blame or I wasn't telling the truth, has allowed people to make judgements about me.
'

Exactly!

The effects of these type of crime last throughout the victims lives.

They can end up falling foul of the law due to the amount of distress, they can lose their friends, their families and partners, their careers.

And £11,000 (if you haven't contributed in getting yourself raped by what you were, a: drinking b: wearing, c: talking about, d: being out without a chaperon) is going to help put that right?






BBC NEWS | UK | 'I felt like I'd been slapped'

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Monday 4 August 2008

Bye Bye Bad Cop News


Oh Dear!
I wonder what is the story behind this?

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