The High Court today handed down judgment in a ground breaking judicial review brought by three women formerly involved in prostitution, challenging the Government’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Regulations.
Read moreThe Win Against The Met Police Was Not Just A Victory For Worboys' Victims →
On 21 February 2018, the Supreme Court handed down an historic judgmentin a case brought against the Metropolitan Police by two women who had been victims of the serial sex offender and black taxi driver, John Worboys.
Read moreSupreme Court rule in favour of Worboys survivors
SUPREME COURT CONCLUDES THAT THE POLICE HAVE A LEGAL DUTY UNDER THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT TO EFFECTIVELY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF RAPE AND SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT IN WORBOYS CASE
The Supreme Court has today handed down judgment in a landmark case against the Metropolitan Police Service, brought by two women who were victims of John Worboys, “Black cab rapist”.
Read moreUpdate on 'Why was John Worboys granted parole? His victims need answers.'
Thanks to your amazing support, we have won the very first stage of the Judicial review challenge by achieving a stay on the release of Worboys until an urgent half-day hearing that will be listed between 6 to 8 February.
Read moreUpdate on CrowdJustice: 'Why was John Worboys granted parole? His victims need answers.'
So many thanks again from everyone involved in this case but particularly from DSD and NBV. They have truly been heartened by the support
Read morePress Release 25 January 2018: Judicial Review on behalf of two victims of John Worboys issued in High Court today.
On 25 January solicitors on behalf of two women who were raped and sexually assaulted by John Worboys issued a claim for judicial review against the Parole Board and the Secretary of State for Justice (SSJ) challenging the decision to release John Worboys (now known as John Radford) from prison.
Read moreWorboys Judicial review: statement from Harriet Wistrich, solicitor for ‘DSD’ and ‘NBV’, two of Worboys’ victims
We can confirm that in the absence of any unexpected and compelling response from the Parole Board to our pre action correspondence, we intend to launch judicial review proceedings against the Parole Board next week.
Read moreCrowdfund launched in support of two women’s challenge to Parole Board on the release of John Worboy's →
Today CWJ is launching a CrowdJustice crowdfunding page to raise funds so two victims can legally challenge the decision to release John Worboys. This is a critical case about taking violence against women seriously and improving state accountability to ensure that victims are adequately protected.
Read morePRESS RELEASE 18.01.18 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Victims of Worboys to challenge parole board release decision
TODAY, two victims of the ‘Black Cab rapist’, John Worboys, launched a legal challenge to find out the reasons Worboys was granted parole and to challenge the decision itself. A crowdfund has been launched to support the victim’s legal efforts to overturn the decision to release.
Read morePRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 15/1/18: “We’re no criminals!” say women formerly involved in prostitution as they take on the Government’s criminal records scheme in Court
Judicial review hearing 17 and 18 January
The women bringing the case (claimants), lawyer and campaigners are available for comment. Demonstration of support outside court from 9.30 on 17 January.
Royal Courts of Justice, Court 3, Strand, London WC2A 2LL - hearing starting at 10.30
On 17 and 18 January the Divisional Court will hear an application for judicial review of the Government’s policy[1]in relation to the retention, recording and disclosure of criminal convictions arising from soliciting offences.
The claim, brought by a group of women, formerly involved in prostitution, will argue for the first time that the Government legislative scheme discriminates against women and is contrary to the UK’s legal obligations in respect of the trafficking of women. They will also rely on previous findings that the scheme is a disproportionate interference of their private life.
“I met a pimp aged 15 and two weeks later I was thrown into the violent and abusive world of prostitution. Rape became an occupational hazard but I was arrested, charged and criminalised for loitering for the purposes of being a common prostitute. After more than twenty years out of prostitution, I am still having to explain my criminal record to any prospective employer. It feels like explaining my history of abuse” Fiona Broadfoot, Claimant.
The women bringing the claim were exploited and trafficked as teenagers and forced to survive through prostitution for a number of years before getting out. Most of those who have been in street prostitution have multiple convictions under s1 Street Offences Act 1959 which means that when applying for a range of jobs or volunteering activity, DBS checks will result in their histories of prostitution being made known many years after they have left that life behind.
“It doesn’t matter what it is – trying to help out at my kids’ school or the local brownies’ coffee morning, trying to be a governor or a councillor, applying to education or training or employment – even volunteering in so many fields – with children, with the elderly, in care, with vulnerable people, with youth work, with social work – all need a DBS and then you get treated like some sort of pariah or sex offender! But it’s not fair – I never chose that life and I fought hard to get out of it but I’m always being pulled back to it as though that’s who I am but it’s not who I am.” Prostitution survivor.
The women describe their criminal records as a “catalogue of their abuse”, but as victims of rape and sexual abuse they appear to have no entitlement to anonymity in the disclosure process.
“As the judge recognised in an earlier hearing in this case, attitudes to women who have been groomed into prostitution have changed. Most are controlled and coerced and therefore meet the wider definition of trafficking. As such this policy is inconsistent with the Modern Slavery Act as it continues to punish victims” said Harriet Wistrich, solicitor for the women.
“We wish to see women’s existing records expunged, immediate amendments to existing legislation and guidance around recording, retention and disclosure and, in future, women should not be criminalised for their involvement in prostitution but offered help and support to access a full range of viable opportunities and choices besides prostitution,” Said spokesperson for nia, (charity supporting the women).
END Notes
For more information about the case:http://centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/2017/12/18/prostitution-convictions-january/#more-1977
Spokespeople
Harriet Wistrich (Lawyer from Birnberg Peirce acting for the women and Director of Centre for Women’s Justice, supporting the women) 020 7911 0166 or 07903 912 641
Heather Harvey (Research and development manager at nia– a charity working on all forms of violence against women and girls and supporting the women) 0207 683 1270 or 07472 145141.
[1]The Disclosure and Barring Regulations
Update on the judicial review challenge on the release of John Worboys
Two claims have been issued, one on behalf of DSD and NBV, two of Worboys victims and one on behalf of the Mayor of London. In addition an application has been lodged today by News Group Newspapers Ltd with a request to also be joined in the proceedings.
Read moreStatement re John Worboys’ imminent release
‘DSD’ and ‘NBV’, the two claimants in the case against the metropolitan police arising from their abject failures to investigate the original multiple allegations made against Worboys* have expressed their shock and dismay at the latest failures by criminal justice agencies.
Read moreCWJ Director Harriet Wistrich: “Many of these women still live with the aftermath”
Watch Harriet Wistrich speaking on Channel4 News about the release of convicted rapist John Worboys
Read moreIn the news: Freed to kill again - and again: Theodore Johnson and the truth about domestic violence →
This week, Theodore Johnson pleaded guilty to murdering his ex-partner – the third woman he has killed. Is this a uniquely tragic triple crime, or a systemic failure to take domestic violence seriously?
Read moreIn the news: Yes, there’s a major problem with rape prosecutions. But it’s not that women are lying →
The collapse of the Liam Allan trial doesn’t change the fact that we are in the midst of a rape culture, where victims are disbelieved and don’t get justice.
PROSTITUTION CONVICTIONS: Women granted permission to challenge Government Judicial Review Hearing on 17 and 18 January 2018, High Court, London
Early next year the High Court will consider a ground breaking legal challenge brought by several women challenging the criminalisation and continued punishment of prostituted women. If successful, it will bring to an end a shameful practice in modern day Britain, where those who are victims of abuse and exploitation continue to be labelled and punished for something that was in a large part done to them.
Read moreThe Femicide Census has been published
The latest Femicide Census report, published in December 2017, reveals that 113 women were killed by men in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2016
Read moreViolence against women and girls: How Centre for Women’s Justice takes on the challenge
This week Harriet Wistrich lodged a complaint of institutionalised discrimination against women under the Optional protocol of CEDAW.
Read moreDeceived women launch sexism complaint to United Nations against UK government undercover policing
Seven women psychologically and sexually abused by undercover policemen infiltrating UK protest groups have lodged a complaint to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.