Women's Views on News |
- Police U-turn on sexual assault centre
- Women’s sports round-up: 14-20 January
- One in five women victim of sexual offence
| Police U-turn on sexual assault centre Posted: 21 Jan 2013 07:00 AM PST
Victims of sexual assault in Coventry were initially told they would not be able to use this facility due to staffing issues. However, West Midlands Police have announced this week that these problems have now been addressed. In October last year, I reported on the shocking pronouncement from West Midlands Police that rape and sexual assault victims in Coventry would not have access to the new Blue Sky Sexual Assault and Rape Centre (SARC) opening at George Elliot Hospital in Nuneaton. The Coventry Telegraph revealed last year that if Coventry residents were to report sexual assault or rape to the West Midlands police, who serve the Coventry area, they would not be taken to this new, state-of-the-art facility about 12 miles away. Instead, they would be forced to seek help and support in the next nearest SARC in the West Midlands area, which is over an hours drive away in Walsall. This revelation caused outrage in Coventry, not least because Coventry City Council contributed £150,000 towards the building of the new centre. But last week, new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the West Midlands, Bob Jones, confirmed that this decision is to be overturned. Mr Jones said: "I'm fully confident this will happen. We're hoping that within a month, the Nuneaton SARC can be brought up to the same standards as the West Midlands centres. "It should be feasible and it will make the new centre accessible for victims from Coventry when it opens." While Mr Jones’ initial statement seemed to indicate that the SARC will be used by West Midlands Police within a month of opening, it seems that a later date of June has been given from others within the West Midlands Police force. West Midlands Police Public Protection Unit Chief Superintendent, Simon Hyde, said: "We are committed to ensuring rape and sexual assault victims in the West Midlands receive the highest quality service and support. "Alongside NHS, local authority and charity support groups, West Midlands Police has played an active role in a SARC Strategic Partnership which has been working to develop a regional service that satisfies SARC standards. "In relation to the planned development of a Nuneaton SARC – due to be operational in Jan/February 2013 – West Midlands Police understands these specific standards will be not be achieved before June this year.” These ‘specific standards’ relate to demands by West Midlands Police that forensic medical examiners at the Blue Sky Centre meet certain qualification criteria and requirements on the gender balance of staff. Groups in and around Coventry have responded positively to the news, but have stressed that the centre should have been available to Coventry victims from day one. Diane Whitfield from Coventry rape crisis charity CRASAC said, “We are positive that Bob Jones has indicated that a deal is close to being done. “My remaining concern is they are talking about the possibility of a June deadline. “I am keen that the WM police take up the suggestion from the Nuneaton SARC that in the interim period, (from when the SARC is due to open in Feb to the June contract timetable) the WM Police can still send through victims who report to the Coventry Police to the local Nuneaton SARC and they can get over their contractual inconsistency difficulties via using their own Forensic Medical Examiners. “This should be a very practical and feasible option and does not appear to have significant costs associated with this. “My stance is that a deal is very positive and clearly in the interests of victims who report in Coventry. “I would want to see this in place from day one of the Nuneaton SARC opening. “No one victim should have to travel any further than is necessary at a time of horrific trauma in her life.” It is worth noting that victims are able to self-refer to the centre at any time themselves. Victims who do self-refer to the centre can be treated there, but, as recent research by Warwickshire Police has shown, many victims are not aware these services are there and available for them to use. Since the Coventry Telegraph highlighted the issue last October there has been a sustained campaign by members of local women’s groups and organisations, as well as outspoken pressure from members of the City Council. In the lead up to the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in November, candidates were encouraged to commit to overturning the decision if they were elected. At the PCC Question Time event organised by Coventry Women’s Voices all the candidates pledged that if they were elected they would immediately address the situation. Council leader John Mutton said: "Bob gave me a commitment before he was elected that he would intervene in to the situation because he saw the stupidity of victims in Coventry having to be driven to Birmingham or Walsall when we have a brand new centre in Nuneaton. "For those who suffer these awful crimes, we need to get them to their nearest centre to minimise the trauma they are going through." The centre will primarily focus on medical response to a recent sexual assault, but it will also act as a gateway to other services and advice to assist a victim in their recovery.  |
| Women’s sports round-up: 14-20 January Posted: 21 Jan 2013 03:30 AM PST
Tennis: It's been a big week for Heather Watson and especially big for Laura Robson, who both reached the third round of the Australian Open. British number 1 Watson beat Alexandra Cadantu 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, and saved three match points to beat Ksenia Pervak 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, before finally succumbing to fourth seed and 2012 Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets. Robson, meanwhile, posted a straight-sets victory over Melanie Oudin to advance to the second round, where she faced eighth seed and 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. Despite losing the first set 2-6, she held her nerve and went on to make a huge upset in just over three hours. Robson has now defeated three grand slam winners in just two grand slams. Unfortunately, she was unable to hold her form into the third round, and lost to 29th seeded American Sloane Stephens. Despite their losses, both Watson and Robson have said they were happy with their play, and have spoken of their determination and optimism for the future. On the basis of their performance here, and their excellent results at the end of last year, British tennis fans something to be (cautiously) optimistic about. Cycling: As you may well have heard, former world and Olympic champion and all-round heroine Nicole Cooke retired from professional cycling this week – and she didn't go quietly. She hit out at drug cheats, saying that they ruin the chances of those who compete clean, and that she herself has been "robbed by drug cheats". She also pointed out that Tyler Hamilton, a former teammate of Lance Armstrong, will make more from his book confessing to doping than Cooke made throughout her whole career. And, never one to shy away from calling out cycling's gender inequality, she accused the sport's governing body, the UCI, of being more concerned with protecting its own image than supporting women's cycling. “I hope I will look on in 10 years’ time and see a vibrant and healthy women’s road scene. The key to that will be that the female athletes are treated with respect," she said. A sentiment we can all share. Cooke's achievements were praised by British Cycling coach Shane Sutton, who called her one of the greatest women road cyclists of all time, and her criticism of gender inequality was welcomed by journalists and fans. In happier cycling news, cycling charity CTC is to launch an elite women's road team. Chief executive Gordon Seabright said, "there's clearly an imbalance in the sport, especially when it comes to funding the women's side. We want to show by actions and not just by words that we support women's cycling." The team will take part in six high profile UCI races overseas, as well as several domestic events. There has also been some British success at the final event of the 2012/13 UCI Track Cycling World Cup, held in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Welsh Cycling's trade team Team USN, of Ciara Horne, Amy Roberts and Elinor Barker, won bronze in the women's team pursuit on Thursday. Roberts also finished 6th in the points race, and Horne 11th in the 3km individual pursuit. At the end of the first day of competition, Barker lay in 17th place in the omnium. The final results are yet to be published, but watch this space. Netball: England faced world champions Australia on Sunday in the first of a three match series. In front of a sell-out crowd at the University of Bath, England led throughout the match, gaining a narrow 58-53 win. The result marks only the third time England have beaten Australia, with the world champions winning the last eight meetings between the teams. England defender Eboni Beckford-Chambers spoke out to the BBC this week about the lack of pay for players in the netball Superleague, which comprises eight teams throughout England and Wales. Until they can be paid to play in the UK, many top-level players will continue to move to countries such as Australia, where the sport is much more established. England next face Australia at Wembley on 23 January, before heading to Birmingham for the final match in the series on 26 January. Cricket: England have flown to India to prepare for the world cup, which begins on 31 January, but the spotlight is elsewhere. Given the tension between hosts India and neighbouring Pakistan, the authorities decided it would be too dangerous for Pakistan to play in Mumbai as planned. Although a final announcement will not be made until all security concerns are resolved, it is now expected that Group B matches, between Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, will be played in Cuttack, in the more peaceful state of Orissa. Group A matches will be played in Mumbai as planned. Judo: Olympic silver-medallist Gemma Gibbons was back in action in Sheffield over the weekend for the British Championships. Despite recent surgery for a thumb injury at the Olympics last year, Gibbons won all her fights to take her first British title. One of her main rivals, Natalie Powell, was unable to travel to Sheffield due to heavy snow. Golf: A new women's circuit is to be launched this year in Scotland to provide more playing opportunities for Scottish professionals and amateurs alike. The Scottish Ladies' Open Tour already has several confirmed venues, including Carnoustie and Dalmahoy, and has been warmly welcomed by players. Ice Skating: The European short track speed skating Championships took place in Malmo, Sweden over the weekend, bringing considerable success for British women. Overall world number 2 Elise Christie won gold in both the 1500m and 1000m, enough to win her second place overall. Charlotte Gilmartin won bronze in the 1500m, and reached the quarterfinals of the 500m and 1000m. Together the pair reached the semis of the 3000m relay. Olympics: Team GB have had a hugely successful Australian Youth Olympic Festival, winning a total of 19 gold, 23 silver and 24 bronze medals. Among the women's highlights were nine gymnastics medals, including All Around gold for Tyesha Mattis and team silver in artistic gymnastics. Georgia Hall became the Britain's first medallist in a century in an Olympic golf event, winning gold in the individual women's competition. British record holding weightlifter Zoe Smith won silver in her final junior event. Check out the full list of winners here. Rugby: Good news for women in sports management this week, as the Bradford Bulls appoint their first female director. Businesswoman Kate Hardcastle will focus on developing the team's brand, and building their fan base among families and children. On the other side of the globe, Tongan Rugby has appointed its first female CEO. 'Emeline Tuita will serve a year-long term, and has said she hopes to grow the women's game.  |
| One in five women victim of sexual offence Posted: 21 Jan 2013 01:30 AM PST
It was hard to miss the headlines last week relaying shocking new sexual offence figures for England and Wales. According to these figures, more than 1000 sexual assaults were carried out on women every day last year and one in five women aged between 16 and 59 has been the victim of a sexual offence – including rape – in their lifetime. In the first joint overview of sexual offending in England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and the Office of National Statistics combined their data to provide what is thought to be the most comprehensive statistical overview of sexual offending to date. The data makes for appalling reading. Court statistics showed that despite over half a million women – and men - in England and Wales being the victim of a sexual offence in the last year, only 5,620 offenders were convicted. In the last three years, around 95,000 people, the vast majority of whom were women, were estimated to be the victims of rape each year. Of this figure, only 2,910 cases went to court and there were only 1,070 successful convictions against the perpetrator. There are more, equally stomach-churning statistics, which the Guardian has produced on a datablog graphic. They seem almost unbelievable. Well, they kind of are, because the figures also show that rape and other sexual offences remain substantially under reported. Jacquie Stamp, chief executive of New Pathways in Wales said that from her experience, the figures were 'quite conservative' and reports suggest that more than a quarter of the victims of the most serious assaults tell no one at all of their ordeal. Last week's figures, then, become even more catastrophic when you add the victims who don’t report their assault. Why is our legal system failing victims of sexual assault? The use of police cautions in the case of sexual assault is offensive and arbitrary – more than 1500 were issued in 2011 – and ignores the serious and pervasive nature of sexual offences. The fact that rape conviction rates are so low does little to encourage women to report their attacker to the police or, in the rare case that it goes that far, to take their cases to court. If they do get to court, while women may no longer be cross examined by the accused themselves, they are still waiting up to two years to be put through the hell of reliving their ordeal. There is simply no incentive for a woman to challenge what is often the most destructive violation she can experience. Surely the government and the appropriate bodies that monitor these figures must see that there is a cataclysmic gulf between reports and convictions of rape and sexual assault? On 25 November 2010, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the coalition government 'launched a paper outlining their ambition and guiding principles to tackle violence against women and girls'. One of their principles was a pledge 'to take action to reduce the risk to women and girls who are victims of these crimes and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice'. It is clear that this is simply not happening and our approach to sexual crime has to change. It must start putting the victim at the centre of how sexual crime is reported, investigated and prosecuted, to ensure more women feel they are able to report a sexual assault. These figures are gargantuan yet they show disastrously low conviction rates. These figures show that, as a society, we do not challenge sexual offending and rape and that we accept it as part of our norm. And it gives the message to thousands of men that they are free to continue to assault and rape women with little fear of recrimination. Women's Aid service manager Deborah McIlveen said: "Despite all that is known about rape and sexual violence, the justice system still fails to hold most rapists to account and so fails to deliver victim safety, public protection and management of perpetrator risk. “These men are free to continue to rape and this is unacceptable, harmful and illegal.” It is time we changed that message.  |
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