So Barbara Hewston considers Hall's assaults to be simply 'misdemeanours'? Is she for real? Is she saying that sticking his hand up a 9-year-old girl's skirt is a 'misdemeanour'? The guy is clearly a pervert who used his fame to go beyond the boundaries of what was 'appropriate' and what was not. He wasn't an old man when he carried out these 'misdemeanours' for God's sake. If a non-famous person had stuck his/her hand up a 9-year-old's skirt for sexual gratification, he'd be hauled in by the police, but because Hall is famous, he can live by a different law?
So Barbara Hewston considers Hall's assaults to be simply 'misdemeanours'? Is she for real? Is she saying that sticking his hand up a 9-year-old girl's skirt is a 'misdemeanour'? The guy is clearly a pervert who used his fame to go beyond the boundaries of what was 'appropriate' and what was not. He wasn't an old man when he carried out these 'misdemeanours' for God's sake. If a non-famous person had stuck his/her hand up a 9-year-old's skirt for sexual gratification, he'd be hauled in by the police, but because Hall is famous, he can live by a different law?
I don't really get her point - as far as I know the Yewtree-ish complaints are wholly, or almost wholly, about non-consensual assaults, not merely sex with "consenting" 13-15 year olds.
I don't really get her point - as far as I know the Yewtree-ish complaints are wholly, or almost wholly, about non-consensual assaults, not merely sex with "consenting" 13-15 year olds.
Neither do I really , if this was about elderly celebs who touched a ladies boob ( a lady above the age of consent) 20/30/40 years agoI I would say she was right, whilst innapropriate behaviour it would not be worthy of taxpayers money to go this far with it all, but I dont see how she can sensibly say whilst talking about Hall that a touch of a boob of a 17 year old is a misdemeanour when Halls crimes appear to be mostly about sexual abuse of children as young as 9 and she seems to have ignored that
I dont think anyone would disagree a touched boob or pinched bum of an adult decades ago would be silly to have court cases over(not right behaviour but not worthy of full on enquiries) , but until we see or hear evidence I am assuming and we are hearing the allegations are of a far more serious nature than that.
I don't really get her point - as far as I know the Yewtree-ish complaints are wholly, or almost wholly, about non-consensual assaults, not merely sex with "consenting" 13-15 year olds.
That's what I thought too, so I don't know what she was rambling on about to be honest, other than she thought the age of consent should be brought down to 13
At 13, I was little more than a young girl, and certainly not savvy enough to feel confident about exposing an adult groper. And if some dirty old git had shoved his hand up my skirt when I was 9, I'm pretty damn sure it would have screwed me up for a long time. You just don't expect an adult to gratify his sexual urges with a child, especially one that's been paraded around on our screens for decades as a lovable and trusty old pal, so I hope Barbara Hewston gets some stick for this, and the fact she saw fit to not even mention the 9-year old Hall groped, but she did see fit to mention her abhorrence of persecuting elderly men!! What sort of person is she? An ex member of PIE?
Neither do I really , if this was about elderly celebs who touched a ladies boob ( a lady above the age of consent) 20/30/40 years agoI I would say she was right, whilst innapropriate behaviour it would not be worthy of taxpayers money to go this far with it all, but I dont see how she can sensibly say whilst talking about Hall that a touch of a boob of a 17 year old is a misdemeanour when Halls crimes appear to be mostly about sexual abuse of children as young as 9 and she seems to have ignored that
Completely ignored it as if it wasn't anything to even bother commenting on. I agree that a fondled boob from decades ago of someone over the age of consent is not in the same league as Hall's crimes against children. Why would this woman defend such a pervert? What's her agenda?
So Barbara Hewston considers Hall's assaults to be simply 'misdemeanours'? Is she for real? Is she saying that sticking his hand up a 9-year-old girl's skirt is a 'misdemeanour'? The guy is clearly a pervert who used his fame to go beyond the boundaries of what was 'appropriate' and what was not. He wasn't an old man when he carried out these 'misdemeanours' for God's sake. If a non-famous person had stuck his/her hand up a 9-year-old's skirt for sexual gratification, he'd be hauled in by the police, but because Hall is famous, he can live by a different law?
I thought she meant "misdemeanors" in the legal sense, but the term is not used in the UK any more is it?
I don't really get her point - as far as I know the Yewtree-ish complaints are wholly, or almost wholly, about non-consensual assaults, not merely sex with "consenting" 13-15 year olds.
Nor me.
It was nothing to do with the rest of the article, which did make some good points in -between the rambling.
At 13, I was little more than a young girl, and certainly not savvy enough to feel confident about exposing an adult groper. And if some dirty old git had shoved his hand up my skirt when I was 9, I'm pretty damn sure it would have screwed me up for a long time. You just don't expect an adult to gratify his sexual urges with a child, especially one that's been paraded around on our screens for decades as a lovable and trusty old pal, so I hope Barbara Hewston gets some stick for this, and the fact she saw fit to not even mention the 9-year old Hall groped, but she did see fit to mention her abhorrence of persecuting elderly men!! What sort of person is she? An ex member of PIE?
Actually buried in that otherwise unpalatable article are some interesting points.
"... Taking girls to one’s dressing room, bottom pinching and groping in cars hardly rank in the annals of depravity ...it makes abuse banal, and reduces the sympathy that we should feel for victims of really serious assaults"
.... This national trawl for historical victims was an open invitation to all manner of folk to reinterpret their experience of the past as one of victimisation
"generates a demand that criminal courts should afford accusers therapy, by giving them ‘a voice’. This function is far removed from the courts’ traditional role, in which the state must prove defendants guilty beyond reasonable doubt".
".... many reforms introduced in the name of child protection involve sweeping attacks on fundamental Anglo-American legal rights and safeguards, such as the presumption of innocence"
I totally agree with all those points. I feel it is unfortunate that her call for the age of consent to be reduced to 13 has been the most highlighted point. In the context of the article I can see her point - although I don't agree with it. The naming of celebrities has, I think, possibly encouraged adult "victims" of gropers to complain as they may be looking for compensation. It is a little like the boy who originally said that Michael Jackson had not abused him now says he has. Question is - is he looking for compensation or is he genuine? If he is genuine why did he change his story?
I am not happy with the emphasis on celebrities and also with the annonymity given to so called victims. Yes, more genuine complaints could be discovered but for what reason. Genuinely abused children are still being ignored as adults are taking time with these complaints made so long after the event. If they had complained at the time and it had been ignored then the record should still be on file. If they didn't complain at the time then it could not have been so serious or traumatic.
I feel for victims of rape and they need hearing but groping is not something that is so traumatic that it clouds a whole life. I was groped by a family friend when I was about 7. Just his hand up my skirt. I've never forgotten it but it has not destroyed my life. The groper was not a celebrity and is now dead so why would I make a complaint?
I keep trying to get the distinction between the serious assaults and the minor ones. I also try to keep a distinction between those who went to the dressing rooms in the hopes of becoming famous. 15 mins of fame has a lot to answer for.
Mark Williams-Thomas @mwilliamsthomas 5m
RT @BarbaraHewson: Lots of supportive e-mail flooding in - some as far away as Oz and the US!
Mark Williams-Thomas @mwilliamsthomas 4m
Morning @BarbaraHewson do you still stand by everything you wrote? Given ur chambers & so many others in legal profession disagree with it
Report saying that Savile Friday coffee mornings were merely social events, with nothing underhand going in.
Not a promising start. Looks like the media didn't get a copy in advance as Sky said "More on this at 6.30 when we've worked though it."
ITV News @itvnews 4m
W Yorks Police report: "There is no evidence" Jimmy Savile was "protected from arrest" due to relations with officers http://itv.co/YIPS0X
p. 49
"10.9 Of greater concern is that even after the Force received the
request from Surrey Police in 2007 to check what records WYP held
that related to Savile in relation to their investigation at Duncroft
School, WYP continued to use him as part of local crime prevention
campaigns. The reason for this was that the information was not
shared across departments, there was no recognition of the impact of
this information and no checks were made on intelligence systems in
securing Savile’s services."
p.52
"10.13 The meetings held at Savile’s home on Friday mornings had
been portrayed by some, as Savile using his friendship with police
officers to provide him with protection from allegations of sexual abuse.
WYP recognised the seriousness of this suggestion and placed great
emphasis on establishing the truth of what actually took place.
10.14 No evidence has been found to conclude that there was any
impropriety or misconduct in relation to the FMC
10.15 All of those people spoken to who had knowledge of the Friday
Morning Club described it as of a ‘coffee morning’. Non police
attendees commented on how professionally the police officers who
had attended Savile’s home conducted themselves."
Comments
I don't really get her point - as far as I know the Yewtree-ish complaints are wholly, or almost wholly, about non-consensual assaults, not merely sex with "consenting" 13-15 year olds.
Neither do I really , if this was about elderly celebs who touched a ladies boob ( a lady above the age of consent) 20/30/40 years agoI I would say she was right, whilst innapropriate behaviour it would not be worthy of taxpayers money to go this far with it all, but I dont see how she can sensibly say whilst talking about Hall that a touch of a boob of a 17 year old is a misdemeanour when Halls crimes appear to be mostly about sexual abuse of children as young as 9 and she seems to have ignored that
I dont think anyone would disagree a touched boob or pinched bum of an adult decades ago would be silly to have court cases over(not right behaviour but not worthy of full on enquiries) , but until we see or hear evidence I am assuming and we are hearing the allegations are of a far more serious nature than that.
At 13, I was little more than a young girl, and certainly not savvy enough to feel confident about exposing an adult groper. And if some dirty old git had shoved his hand up my skirt when I was 9, I'm pretty damn sure it would have screwed me up for a long time. You just don't expect an adult to gratify his sexual urges with a child, especially one that's been paraded around on our screens for decades as a lovable and trusty old pal, so I hope Barbara Hewston gets some stick for this, and the fact she saw fit to not even mention the 9-year old Hall groped, but she did see fit to mention her abhorrence of persecuting elderly men!! What sort of person is she? An ex member of PIE?
Completely ignored it as if it wasn't anything to even bother commenting on. I agree that a fondled boob from decades ago of someone over the age of consent is not in the same league as Hall's crimes against children. Why would this woman defend such a pervert? What's her agenda?
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/09/barbara-hewson-says-she-has-been-threatened-online_n_3244102.html
It was nothing to do with the rest of the article, which did make some good points in -between the rambling. Harriet Harman was. Almost. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2221078/Jimmy-Savile-liberal-left-encouraged-sexualisation-children.html
https://twitter.com/mwilliamsthomas/status/332577561831940097
The cynic in me wonders how long before he offers to head it ? for a fee and the film rights.
Force opened investigation in January into all its contact with late DJ, revealed to be a predatory paedophile after his death
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/may/09/west-yorkshire-police-jimmy-savile-report
He wasn't "revealed". He was strongly suspected.
I totally agree with all those points. I feel it is unfortunate that her call for the age of consent to be reduced to 13 has been the most highlighted point. In the context of the article I can see her point - although I don't agree with it. The naming of celebrities has, I think, possibly encouraged adult "victims" of gropers to complain as they may be looking for compensation. It is a little like the boy who originally said that Michael Jackson had not abused him now says he has. Question is - is he looking for compensation or is he genuine? If he is genuine why did he change his story?
I am not happy with the emphasis on celebrities and also with the annonymity given to so called victims. Yes, more genuine complaints could be discovered but for what reason. Genuinely abused children are still being ignored as adults are taking time with these complaints made so long after the event. If they had complained at the time and it had been ignored then the record should still be on file. If they didn't complain at the time then it could not have been so serious or traumatic.
I feel for victims of rape and they need hearing but groping is not something that is so traumatic that it clouds a whole life. I was groped by a family friend when I was about 7. Just his hand up my skirt. I've never forgotten it but it has not destroyed my life. The groper was not a celebrity and is now dead so why would I make a complaint?
I keep trying to get the distinction between the serious assaults and the minor ones. I also try to keep a distinction between those who went to the dressing rooms in the hopes of becoming famous. 15 mins of fame has a lot to answer for.
He reportedly had a breakdown March 2012.
I've read some daft comments before, but this one really goes to a whole new level.
Good grief.
Mark Williams-Thomas @mwilliamsthomas 5m
RT @BarbaraHewson: Lots of supportive e-mail flooding in - some as far away as Oz and the US!
Mark Williams-Thomas @mwilliamsthomas 4m
Morning @BarbaraHewson do you still stand by everything you wrote? Given ur chambers & so many others in legal profession disagree with it
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01sffvs/Question_Time_09_05_2013/
The question and answers about whether people should remain anonymous until convicted starts at 38m 20s
http://news.sky.com/story/1088983/savile-report-focuses-on-police-relationships
Should be on all the channels then. Will it reveal the names of the officers in his "Friday Morning Club"?
http://www.channel4.com/news/tia-sharp-april-jones-cleveland-kidnappings-media-coverage
Channel 4 News last night with MWT.
http://crimeandjustice.co.uk/2013/05/10/jimmy-savile-report-published-by-west-yorkshire-police/
R--click link, save target as
Crikey - that was quick
Skip to p.48 for Conclusions and Actions.
Not a promising start. Looks like the media didn't get a copy in advance as Sky said "More on this at 6.30 when we've worked though it."
ITV News @itvnews 4m
W Yorks Police report: "There is no evidence" Jimmy Savile was "protected from arrest" due to relations with officers http://itv.co/YIPS0X
"10.9 Of greater concern is that even after the Force received the
request from Surrey Police in 2007 to check what records WYP held
that related to Savile in relation to their investigation at Duncroft
School, WYP continued to use him as part of local crime prevention
campaigns. The reason for this was that the information was not
shared across departments, there was no recognition of the impact of
this information and no checks were made on intelligence systems in
securing Savile’s services."
They look after themselves.......... Police investigating other Police forces.... hmm... :rolleyes:
"10.13 The meetings held at Savile’s home on Friday mornings had
been portrayed by some, as Savile using his friendship with police
officers to provide him with protection from allegations of sexual abuse.
WYP recognised the seriousness of this suggestion and placed great
emphasis on establishing the truth of what actually took place.
10.14 No evidence has been found to conclude that there was any
impropriety or misconduct in relation to the FMC
10.15 All of those people spoken to who had knowledge of the Friday
Morning Club described it as of a ‘coffee morning’. Non police
attendees commented on how professionally the police officers who
had attended Savile’s home conducted themselves."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22476937