SPCS

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

Sexual assaults in Australia and New Zealand more than double world average

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The rate of sexual assault in Australia and New Zealand is more than double the world average, according to a new report.

After several highly publicised rapes and murders of young women in India and South Africa, researchers from several countries  decided to review and estimate prevalence of sexual violence against women in 56 countries.

The results, published in the UK medical journal The Lancet, found that 7.2 per cent of women aged 15 years or older  reported being sexually assaulted by someone other than an intimate  partner at least once in their lives. [Read more…]

Sallies worried over state of the nation

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Abuse and violence toward children is on the rise and the Salvation Army says more needs to be done to change public policy in the area.

The Salvation Army has released its seventh annual State of the Nation report in which it reviews social progress in New Zealand. [Read more…]

Dunedin businesses lose thousands to fraudsters

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Two Dunedin businesses have lost thousands of dollars to a gang of fraudsters targeting Dunedin’s Chinese business community, police say.

Police believe the offenders are of Chinese descent and aged between 40 and 75 years.

Among the fraud schemes used is approaching the owners of takeaway shops with a business proposition. The victims are then drawn into further contact with the fraudsters. [Read more…]

Michael Swann – convicted fraudster: Search for his assets – ‘labour intensive’

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Police have identified more than 50 assets connected to convicted fraudster Michael Swann, with more outstanding assets likely.

Last week, more than $250,000 in assets were recovered from Mr Swann and forfeited by the High Court, including a 1922 Rolls-Royce, $92,475.42 in trust accounts, and a dirt bike.

Those assets join the 48 assets subject to confiscation orders by the court.

To see a slideshow of Swann’s assets go to: http://www.odt.co.nz/news/galleries/283558/swann-collection [Read more…]

What’s wrong with our rape laws? Opinion

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What’s wrong with our rape laws? OPINION by Andrea Vance:

Amid the national moral panic stemming from the Roast Busters sex scandal, politicians were grappling with one challenging question: What’s wrong with our rape laws?

What is it about our justice system that makes more than 90 per cent of victims unwilling to report incidents of sexual violation to the police?

Why is it that sexual violence is the fifth most common offence but the least reported to police? [Read more…]