Harassment of Women as a Hate Crime
Nottinghamshire has always had a reputation for finding unusual ways for good to triumph over bad – perhaps it’s the ‘Robin Hood’ influence on the county’s history. This week, Nottinghamshire Police are making global headlines for their decision to treat...
Sexual Assault in Prison
A survey of NSW and Queensland prisons suggests sexual assault is not as prevalent in prison as some may think. Going to Prison- The Fear The UNSW survey found that one-third of people who are going to prison believe they...
Sexual Abuse Rife Within ADF
Last week, Australian Defence Force (ADF) Deputy Chief Raymond Griggs testified before the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse about physical and sexual abuse in the ADF. He spoke about a range of incidents and practices, including...
Security Company Paid Staff to ‘Keep Quiet’ Over Rape
Wilson Security is alleged to have paid at least two employees to keep quiet about the alleged sexual assault of a local Manus Island woman last year. Alleged ‘hush money’ Journalists for the ABC’s 7.30 program report that the money, offered as non-disclosure payments,...
Victoria Passes Tough Sexual Assault Laws
By Matthew Drogemuller Australia was horrified when 31-year-old Sean Price murdered 17-year-old Masa Vukotic as she was walking near her Doncaster home last year. Grief turned to anger when the public was informed that Price was out on bail at the...
Sexual Assault Victim Re-Victimised by Criminal Justice System
In January 2015, former Stanford University swimming champion Brock Turner, aged 20, sexually assaulted a 22-year-old woman behind a garbage bin after a fraternity party. He was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and faced a maximum penalty...
Criminal Lawyer Punished for Pressuring Sexual Abuse Victim
Victorian criminal defence lawyer Alex Lewenberg has been suspended from practising law for 15 months and ordered to pay the Legal Services Commissioner $55,455 in costs after pressuring a complainant not to assist police in the prosecution of an alleged...
Dozens of NSW Police Facing Serious Criminal Charges
It has been reported that over 50 NSW police officers are facing a range of serious criminal charges, including sexual assault, child rape, domestic assault and perjury. The details, obtained under freedom of information laws, suggest that 32 of NSW...
Uncertain Future for Manus Island Asylum Seekers
By Matthew Drogemuller This week’s decision by a Papua New Guinean court that the detention of 850 asylum seekers held in the Australian-controlled detention centre on Manus Island unlawfully breaches their rights means the Centre must be shut down. In...
Danger: ‘Superpredators’ Are Coming, Again!
As reported in an earlier blog, Victorian Chief Police Commissioner Graham Ashton claims that a rise in that state’s crime is largely attributable to the ‘Grand Theft Auto Generation’ – young criminals who mimic the stylised crimes in violent video...