Simon Levy sentencing: The Met Police not fit for purpose and the criminal justice system is in freefall
CWJ statement on the unprecedented contempt proceedings faced by Rajiv Menon KC
Government must now set out bold commitments to protect victims of VAWG from unjust criminalisation, or risk failing to reduce women’s imprisonment
CWJ responds to inspectorate’s findings that MI5 ‘lied’ to courts
CWJ comment: Ruth Ellis given a conditional pardon
IPCO report confirms 'serious failings’ by MI5 to manage the risks its agent posed to women
Government announcement to increase minimum sentencing for domestic murders is ill thought out and will have unintended consequences particularly for victims who kill their abuser
Individuals who kill their partner or ex-partner in the home may become subject to a higher baseline starting point for sentencing, under new plans announced on 29 June by the Ministry of Justice.
Stacey Hyde case featured in Channel 4’s ‘The Accused: Beyond Reasonable Doubt’, 25 June, 10pm
Stacey Hyde’s case will be featured in the new Channel 4 series The Accused: Beyond Reasonable Doubt, airing at 10pm on Thursday 25 June. The episode tells the story of Stacey, who was just 17 when, in 2009, she stabbed and killed Vince Francis during a violent incident in which she said she was acting in defence of herself and her friend. She was convicted of murder in March 2010.
Support Lisa Ellwood's appeal
Lisa Ellwood is serving a life sentence for murder – after a life marked by abuse, severe mental ill-health, and a trial in which the jury were denied the benefit of psychological opinion evidence. Her appeal will be heard on 26 June 2026.
ITV Drama, ‘Believe Me’ tells the story of the legal battle by two survivors to hold the police and parole board to account
ITV’s four‑part drama Believe Me, which airs from 10 May, is the true crime story of the legal battle fought by two survivors of serial rapist taxi driver, John Worboys to hold the police accountable for the failures in their investigation which led to well over 100 women being attacked before he was brought to justice.
Survivor of abuse by MI5 agent wins damages settlement
The Director General of MI5 has apologised to a woman who was victimised by a neo-Nazi informant while he was working for the Security Service.
11 years’ imprisonment for ‘therapist’ sexual abuser after case initially closed by police
On 12 March at Lewes Crown Court Gerald Peck was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment for sexual offences and has been ordered to pay the survivor £10,000 to cover the cost of the therapy she has since needed.
Centre for Women’s Justice welcomes national Independent Legal Advice service for rape survivors and extension of ‘Operation Soteria’ to the court
The Ministry of Justice has announced their long-awaited plans to fund an independent legal advice service for victim-survivors of rape.
The legacy of Sarah Everard – Five years on 3 March 2026: A national conversation on Violence against Women and Girls, but slow pace of change
As we remember the horrendous events and revelations that followed the disappearance of Sarah Everard, five years ago today, Centre for Women’s Justice reflects on the changes that have been made to policing and the government response to violence against women and girls.
Comment on Jane Andrews case, ‘The Lady’
In anticipation of ITV’s new drama series ‘The Lady’ said to portray the ‘true crime story’ of a ‘rags to riches’ Royal aide of Sarah Ferguson, former Duchess of York, Harriet Wistrich, CEO of Centre for Women’s Justice, who represented Jane Andrews at her appeal in 2003, comments
Court to consider criminal appeal by Merseyside woman convicted of murder in 2015
On27 January, The Court of Appeal will consider legal submissions and fresh evidence in support of an appeal by Amanda O’Shaughnessy, who stabbed her violent partner, David Butterworth, in December 2014.
CWJ welcomes progress on addressing victims’ unjust criminalisation but warns urgent legal reforms still needed
We welcome key commitments in the government’s long-awaited Freedom from Violence and Abuse strategy published yesterday. However, the strategy fails to introduce urgently needed protections for victim-survivors accused of offending.
Government to publish long-overdue VAWG Strategy on 18 December
We set out our expectations for how the strategy will approach criminal justice reform.
Super-Complaint Launched Over ‘Excessively Lengthy’ Police Investigations into Sexual Offences
Soaring police delays have left over 37,000 survivors of sexual offences waiting for more than three years for their cases to be investigated over the last decade, according to survivor organisations launching a rare type of action against policing today.
FIGHTBACK
Our new film ‘Fightback’, highlights the plight of women convicted of the murder of male partners who were violent and abusive towards them.