Child rape epidemic in Zimbabwe

"Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abused in Zimbabwe in a growing epidemic that has shocked human rights activists. A single clinic in the capital, Harare, says it has treated nearly 30,000 girls and boys who were abused in the past four years ‑ an average...

Prostitution: a crime of purchasing

"Peers have been debating the policing and crime bill. Their deliberations mean that the government will take a historic step: instead of controlling prostitution by punishing women, it will penalise the purchasers – the men." This is an unpredictable development. (And one...

Claims of sex abuse by women grow

"A huge rise in the number of children calling to report sexual abuse by women has been revealed by ChildLine. Over the past five years, the charity says the number of such calls has risen five times faster than youngsters reporting abuse by a man. Of 16,094 children who...

Violent offenders receiving only police cautions

"If you commit a crime and get caught it is reasonable to think that you will go to court, be prosecuted and pay the price for your actions. Not necessarily. In fact, in England and Wales half of all criminal cases brought to justice these days are punished out of court by...

Reported rapes hit 20-year low

"Reported rapes have fallen to the lowest level in 20 years as DNA evidence helps send more rapists to prison and victims are more willing to work with police and prosecutors, victims advocates and crime researchers say."In some respects, I’m not entirely sure why I’m...

Metropolitan Police may shut down human trafficking unit

"The Metropolitan Police may shut its specialist unit to tackle human trafficking because of lack of funding. You might remember this is the second time that the unit has been threatened with closure due to funding issues; last time, it was given a reprieve."It would be a...

Daily sweets 'linked to violence'

"Children who eat sweets and chocolate every day are more likely to be violent as adults, according to UK researchers. The Cardiff University study involving 17,500 people is the first into effects of childhood diet on adult violence."This is a very high sample number for...

'Oldest' burglar is jailed again

"A man thought to be Britain's oldest burglar has been sentenced to 28 months in prison - after being caught thieving on his push bike in Cumbria. Richard Blaylock, 77, stole cash, cufflinks and a watch after cycling to a village five miles from his home in Carlisle, a court...

British Asians 'outsourcing murder'

"A BBC investigation has uncovered the deadly practice of British Asians travelling to India to hire contract killers. Family and business associates, who are lured to the sub-continent, are often the targets. " I did not know this! "In a country where murder is cheaper and...

Outcry over Polanski's detention

"Politicians and Hollywood heavyweights have rallied behind director Roman Polanski following his arrest. French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner called the detention of the film-maker - a French citizen - in Switzerland a "bit sinister". "Really?! Seriously?! Outcry over...

Roman Polanski detained in Zurich

"Film director Roman Polanski has been taken into custody in Switzerland and faces extradition to the US for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977." I had no idea that Polanski was accused of this. It seems that he has used the system to evade justice. Perhaps this case...

Just one in 15 domestic violence cases results in a conviction

"There has been a huge rise in domestic violence attacks - but prosecutors are only securing convictions in one in 15 cases, it has emerged. " There is, unfortunately, nothing terribly new about this statistic because the clear up rate for domestic violence has always been...