Letter to the Guardian (unpublished) 16 February 2021 To: guardian.letters@theguardian.com Dear Editor, Sarah Crew, police lead for rape in England and Wales, blames the “decriminalisation” of rape on the “huge progress and expertise . . . lost when specialist teams investigating rape were disbanded during years of austerity.” (Guardian 15 Feb) Anticipating disaster, we asked …
UPDATE: The Supreme Court upheld the women’s claim – a significant victory for all rape survivors! Today 21 February, the Supreme Court will give the verdict on a police appeal to overturn a high court decision which protects rape victims. This shameful appeal was backed by Prime Minister Theresa May. Biased and negligent police investigations …
Policy often divert attention from the real obstacles of justice which victims face. Such policies provide a smokescreen for the sexism, racism, class and other forms of discrimination. Read the article in New Law Journal in full below.
Caribbean Times, July 1990 Lord Justice Watkins was given an unexpected reception as he entered courtroom six for the afternoon session in the High Court last week. Six women held up the banner stating “Sack Judge Watkins for covering up police rape”. Lord Watkins left the room until they were ejected.
Three appeal court judges freed a police constable who raped As reported in The Guardian July 1990, PC Anderson was freed on the grounds that the original trial judge had said nothing in his summing up about the officer’s previous good character.
Article: Police rapist gets seven years October 12, PC Peter Anderson was found guilty of raping a young Black woman in Surrey whilst on duty. Anderson, relying on racist, sexist stereotypes to mislead the jury claimed that the woman had handed him ‘sex on a plate.’
Statement: In fighting for justice for Jackie Berkeley we are fighting for justice for all. On 19 April, 1984, Ms Jacqueline Berkeley and three other young Black women were arrested after an alleged disturbance in Manchester. At Moss Side Police Station, Ms Berkeley was taken into a cell, script naked, racially abused and raped by …
Racism is Rapism In organising against rape, we have seen too often how the law works against women’s safety. The immigration laws are a prime example…
Today at Walthamstow Magistrates Court Mrs Esme Baker, a West Indian women, and her two sons were found not guilty of assault, threatening behaviour and obstructing the Police, which was a victory in the campaign against rape and violence.
Cutback on rights – passport to rape The new immigration proposals attach every women. The racism that Black and immigrant women (Black or white) already face stems directly from one government after another saying: “you are not welcome, don’t expect any rights.” AND THEY MEAN IT…
