CONFERENCE: The challenges of historic allegations of past sexual abuse

> Download conference flyer for full programme and booking form

Overview

The conference will address the challenges faced by both Care Home and domestic cases of historic sexual abuse and will query whether the law can satisfy the expectations of victims and the public, whilst protecting those who have been falsely accused. By bringing together a panel of expert speakers with a range of backgrounds and experience the conference aims to highlight the challenges faced at all stages of the legal process in such cases.

Speakers

• Our Keynote speaker, Lord Justice Hooper, provided the judgments in two care home cases of R v Burke [2005] EWCA Crim 29 and R v Sheikh [2006] EWCA Crim 2625 which highlight the prejudices caused by the delay and that in certain circumstances no fair trial was possible.
• John Weeden CB (Criminal Cases Review Commission) will offer the CCRCs perspective on the real difficulties faced when reviewing the safety of such convictions.
• Claire Curtis-Thomas MP, former Home Affairs Select Committee member and a serving member of the Council of Europe will look at how MPs have tackled concern over miscarriages of justice in historic cases.
• Professor Martin Conway will present a paper on Young memories and the law including consideration of some common and erroneous beliefs held about human memory and how these can lead to acceptance of accounts purportedly of memory when most likely they are not.
• Bob Woffinden, author and freelance journalist, will consider the role of the media in historic cases and the dangers of miscarriages.
• Jim Gamble QPM (Deputy Chief Constable and Chief Executive of Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) will consider lessons learned from conducting retrospective enquiries into allegations of abuse in care homes and how the ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) guidelines on The Investigation of Historic Institutional Child Abuse (2002) assist in such investigations.
• John Holt (Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS Manchester) will provide the CPS perspective on difficulties faced in conforming to CPS guidelines and public expectations in relation to domestic historic allegations of abuse.
• Mark Newby (Solicitor advocate, Jordans LLP) and Mark Barlow (Barrister, Garden Court North Chambers) have together been responsible for most of the major historical care home appeals over the last 5 years including R v Basil Rigby Williams [2002] ; R v Sheikh [2004] ; R v Robson [2006]; R v Sheikh [2006]; R v Wake [2008]; R v Gillam [2008]; R v Joynson [2008]. They will round off the conference by providing a perspective on the issues that arise in defending historic abuse cases along with practical suggestions to assist lawyers with both funding and the approach to preparing the case for trial or appeal.

Chair: The conference will be chaired by Mark George of Garden Court North Chambers.

> click here to read full speaker biographies (link coming soon)

The overall question the conference will consider is whether there is a need for the law to develop further to protect the innocent or has the law ignored the rights of the victims of sexual abuse.

> Download conference flyer for full programme and booking form

Who should attend?

This conference is aimed at all those involved in practicing criminal law, whether defending or prosecuting. It is relevant to solicitors, barristers, paralegals and is also suited to academics, police forces, social services and associated policy workers and support groups working in this field.

Booking information

The registration fee is £180.00 + VAT (inclusive of conference documentation, lunch and refreshments). Please print and complete a booking form (link below) and return to chambers with your cheque payable to “Chambers of Ian Macdonald QC”. For more information please contact Helen Ray or Nicola Carroll on 0161 236 1840 or ncarroll@gcnchambers.co.uk

Conference flyer