Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Sex abuse victims 'must get specialist support'

Sex abuse victims 'must get specialist support'

Encouraging abuse victims to come forward without a specialist support system in place is "totally irresponsible", campaigners have said.

In an open letter, 150 signatories including Rape Crisis and Refuge, are calling for fully-funded support to be included in the upcoming Victims Bill.

It was written by a woman whose friend helped convict their abusive running coach but then took her own life.

The government says it is improving support for victims at every stage.

The letter's author Charlie Webster and her friend Katie belonged to the same running group in Sheffield as teenagers. But the best friends never shared with each other that that their coach Paul North had sexually abused them over many years.

In 2002, North was jailed for 10 years after Katie and another victim reported him to police. Then aged 18, she had found the strength to give evidence against him in court.

But once North was convicted, Katie's mother Sue said her daughter was abandoned by a criminal justice system that seemed more interested in the offender than the victim.

"In a way, she was sacrificed," she told the BBC. "She got let down by the police, by the running club, and she got left hung out to dry."

Katie was offered very little therapeutic support during the court process and nothing over the next 20 years.

"I can't see how she could have been expected to have got over that and just got on with life," Sue added.

While North served just half of his sentence, his victims were left to deal with their ongoing trauma. For Katie, this culminated with her taking her own life at her home in Australia in January this year aged 39. Her mum said she had never got over what had happened.

In her open letter, Charlie (pictured left) wrote that Katie (right) deserved better than how she was treated


The Victims and Prisoners Bill, which is aiming to offer improved, legally-defined support to crime victims in England and Wales, is to be debated by MPs in the Commons on Monday.

But campaigners are concerned that a key element is missing - guaranteed funding written into law to provide the specialist support services needed to help these victims recover from their trauma.

Ms Webster and charity Rape Crisis have sent the letter to the Justice Secretary Alex Chalk. Its signatories include other charities like Women's Aid, plus athletes Sebastian Coe and Paula Radcliffe.

In the open letter, Ms Webster shares Katie's story, explaining that her friend had done what society had asked of her.

"She spoke out, she stood tall despite victim blaming and because of her courage, others were saved," she writes. "Katie did her duty to society. But what about Katie? What did the system do to help her? She deserved better."

Ms Webster urges the justice secretary to ensure sufficient multi-year funding is allocated to ensure victims are given access to counselling and emotional support to help them rebuild their lives.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Time for a Noodle Tax? Or Just Another Politician Payday?
Kentucky Sheriff Arrested for Fatal Shooting of Judge
Global Workdays Required to Afford iPhone 16
Biden to Meet Zelenskyy at White House on September 26
Tragic Explosions in Beirut Linked to Conflict Escalation
In his podcast, Joe Rogan rightly questioned, "YOU NEED A VACCINE PASSPORT FOR FOOD, BUT VOTER ID IS ‘RACIST'?!"
BYD changing the whole game
Campania President Criticizes NATO Expansion, Warns of Dangerous Consequences
Trump Unveils New Cryptocurrency Venture Amidst Campaign
OpenAI Advances with New AI Model 'o1'
Germany Halts War Weapon Exports to Israel Amid Legal Hurdles
X Update Enables App to Bypass Brazil Ban, Say Internet Providers
Delta Airlines Sets Strict Wardrobe Guidelines for Flight Attendants
Norway Achieves Milestone in Electric Vehicle Adoption
Hezbollah Hit by Explosive Pagers in Lebanon
USA 2024: ‏Trans with crucifix in hand dances on American police car
Here, in Taylor Swift's own words...
Murdoch Family Succession Battle Begins
TikTok Faces Potential Ban in the US Amid Free Speech Concerns
Secret Service Investigates Elon Musk's Controversial Social Media Post
Meta Bans Russian State Media Networks
Ultra-Low Power AI Chip Developed by MIT
Harland & Wolff Shipbuilders to Enter Administration Due to Debt
China and EU Engage in Trade Talks to Defuse Tariff Tensions
Mario Draghi's Call for European Economic Reform
European Hiring Expectations: A Comparative Outlook
Patient Controls Amazon's Alexa Using Brain Implant
High School Dropout Turned Billionaire and Space Tourist
A History of Assassination Attempts on US Leaders
UK To Implement Junk Food Ad Ban to Combat Childhood Obesity
‘Living Nostradamus’ Fulfills Four Predictions, Foresees More Events
Russia and Ukraine Exchange 206 Prisoners in UAE-Brokered Deal
Putin Warns NATO and US on Ukraine Using Long-Range Weapons
Fragmented EU Defence Industry Needs Urgent Coordination
Political Uncertainty Weakens Germany's Investor Confidence
European Car Makers Struggle in the Electric Vehicle Market
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Emphasizes Economic Necessity of Immigration
Bill Gates Warns of Imminent Threats: War and Pandemics
Germany's Foreign Ministry humorously countered U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's assertion that all immigrants eat pets, in a post on the social platform X
Kamala Harris Wins Post-Debate Survey Against Donald Trump
Impact and Aftermath of 9/11 Attacks on the US and the World
Neighbours Criticise Germany Over Extended Border Controls
EU Court Orders Google to Pay €2.4 Billion Fine
Apple Ordered to Pay Ireland €13bn in Unpaid Taxes
UK Upside Down: Woman Attacked, Police Focus on Her Language Instead of the Attacker
Internet Surpasses TV as UK's Leading News Source
Top Former US Military Leaders Endorse Kamala Harris, Criticize Trump
Australia Implements Minimum Age for Social Media Use
Kim Jong Un Announces Increase in North Korea's Nuclear Arsenal
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE UK COULDN'T SINK ANY LOWER… NOW UK WANT TO SUMMON ELON MUSK OVER "TOO MUCH FREE SPEECH" ON X
×