The new Labour government is showing commendable vigour in pursuing the latest batch of racist rioters, the courts are correspondingly raising their game in rapidly hearing cases and sentencing, and sufficient prison places have been made available, so it seems that it is possible for the judicial system to work when the political will is there, a refreshing change.
So I wonder if the government can show an equal willingness to address the longstanding outrage of women and girls not having their cases of sexual violence and rape heard in court.
Many are waiting as long as 3 years to reach court; is this fair or equitable when the racist hooligan is being dealt with in weeks? I grant this is urgent and about restoring public order, community safety and sending an unequivocal signal that racism will not be tolerated, but set against that the daily trauma suffered month after month, year after year, for women and girls living in the same community, sometimes even the same street or even the same building as their alleged sexual perpetrators, who meanwhile are free to daily harass, stalk and re-offend as they please.
On another, not totally unrelated matter, the new government might also want to review when it will meet the manifesto pledge to restore the international aid budget to 0.7% of GNI (currently 0.51%, £12.8billion, 2022 figures) which disproportionately affects women and girls.
We all acknowledge there are difficult choices to be made but the Labour government should demonstrate they are living their pledge to empower women and girls by re-instating that 40% cut to the portion earmarked for sexual and reproductive health projects (approximately £300million) to show they really do care about women and girls wherever they are.
Liberal Democrats should campaign hard for this portion of the international aid budget to be restored as a top priority; it might also help to restore our battered international reputation.
* Catherine Royce is a retired medical doctor, a former member of the Federal Policy Committee and a member of LibDem Women and Liberty Network.
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5 Comments
It’s fair to say that rape trials take too long to get to court, if they do get to court. So much more can and should be done to speed up that process – as well as for many other criminal cases.
However, the people that have already been sentenced as a consequence of the riots are the ones for whom there was such compelling evidence that the perpetrator knew immediately that they should plead guilty.
Rape cases are much more complex, and the evidence harder to process. Even if we treated them with the urgency they deserve they would not get to court this quickly.
Lots of people (including the anti-immigration ring-leaders) are trying to find conspiracy in the speed at which those who were caught on camera, then plead guilty, are being convicted, but we must be careful not to lend weight to their claims – even if we have better motives.
There are things some things that could be done to improve how rape cases are progressed, but many of the issues with delays are relevant across the board. The whole criminal justice system has been creaking at the seams and getting worse thanks to years of under-investment by successive governments. I recommend reading “The Secret Barrister” for more on the full horrors that got us to where we are, and some insight into how we might begin to fix it.
Just two very quick points. Yes, the amount of time it takes to bring many rape and assault cases to court is unacceptable.
But we’re not ready comparing apples and apples here. Many of these cases of violence against women are extremely complex with contested evidence. But the half wit rioters being sent down in recent days even filmed themselves in the act and put it on Facebook.
Thank you for an important article!
Might the introduction of Austerity/Neoliberalism have seriously damaged the essential infra-structures needed for an assertively effective state and so made it less and less efficient and so less humane, as is the case with delayed rape cases etc?
Might the « Headline Impact » of the prompt sentencing of rioters mean more to HMG than the proper state care of women and girls?
Might Austerity/Neoliberalism have made the U K less productive because it functions less well?
Might Austerity/Neoliberalism have contributed to inflation through making our country less efficient and effective and by raising the Bank Rate excessively so that goods and services cost more and debt for the majority increases?
P. s. Why are the sentences for violent rioters less than for the « Just Stop Oilers »?
The sentences for Just Stop Oil protestors were ridiculous, but pleading guilty means you get a shorter sentence, and of course the first people to be prosecuted were at the Magistrates courts that issue shorter sentences. In time I’m sure we’ll see longer sentences for the rioters.
I’m not sure when you think neoliberalism started, but the problems with the justice system pre-date austerity, although they have been getting steadily worse. I’d argue a lot of the avoidable problems are due to authoritarian sensibilities and governments having an draconian attitudes to things like drug use that should be treated as a public health issue, or prioritising apparent punishment over rehabilitation.
There is a balance to be struck between punishment as a deterrence and altering the culture of misogny though obviously there is overlap. Rape terrible as it is cannot be reversed. Along with victim support and punishment for the agressor there must be resources for altering the climate that encourages these crimes. All members of society have a responsibility to treat others with respect while acknowledging differing needs, values and beliefs.