Remove double jeopardy for child sex abuse, says watchdog

CHILD abusers should no longer be allowed to escape prosecution under the double jeopardy rule, the victims’ commissioner has said.

Dame Vera Baird wants the law to be rewritten so that people acquitted of indecently assaulting children can be brought before the courts again if new evidence emerges.

It follows cases where sports coaches have been charged and acquitted and cannot be retried because the offences did not involve penetrative sex.

Changes to double jeopardy were introduced in 2003 to pave the way for the prosecution of the killers of Stephen Lawrence, who had been acquitted. However, the cases were limited to only the most serious offences of murder, rape and arson.

In a letter to David Gauke, the Justice Secretary, Dame Vera writes: “Sixteen years later, we now have a much better understanding of the terrible and long-term consequences of sexual offences committed against children.

“Our approach towards complaints and complainants is very different, as is the way in which we conduct investigations and gather evidence. Having consulted, I am proposing offences relating to non-penetrative sexual abuse of children be included.”

It follows her meeting the lawyer for the sex abuse victims of Bob Higgins, the Southampton football coach, who was initially acquitted after six young players came forward in 1990.

He was convicted this year of sexually touching and groping 24 victims between 1971 and 1996, but the original six have been left without justice or closure, said Dino Nocivelli, a lawyer.

The Ministry of Justice said it was considering Dame Vera’s request.