Hope for the future...

[LS]

I know it won't apply to any of us here, but a sign that this country is finally being heaved into the 20th century at last.
Plans unveiled by the Con-Dem government alliance include a change in the law that anyone accused of rape can expect anonymity unless and until any guilty "verdict" is gained.
This means that if it is brought in, many people coming here will at least have the social stigma aspect of being charged lessened to a degree.
Obviously the stress and strain of being in that position alone will probably remain, but at least the proposed changes are a step in the right direction towards a country supposed to be in the 21st century.

[worriedmother]

Can you help me - when you say accused - does that mean formally charged and not just arrested and bailed ?
My son was arrested today and then released on bail pending further enquries - which I believe will show his innocence. I want to know how this will affect him -if at all, if he was arrested and then not charged ? will he have a record for just being arrested. Hopefully you will tell we have no clue about these things - never been in any trouble before

[LS]

Hi Worried Mother. The details are still being worked out over this, so I can't tell you anything more until it is made law.
Unfortunately this takes time, and could be a number of months, maybe not even this year.

[RFLH]

Hi Worriedmum, yes it will show up that he has been arrested. If the charge is NFA'd then it will still show up and would be referred to in an enhanced CRB check - should this happen you can apply to have it removed, some are....

His DNA will also be kept on file.

When does he have to answer bail again?

[worriedmother]

Hi - he has to answer bail on 25th June. What does NFA'd mean ? No further action ?

Just worried sick - trying to tell him not to worry and it sounds good that police and solicitors sound like they believe him too - he has told them lot of things it would appear she hasn't.

Don't want to give him too much false hope, but he keeps breaking down. Don't want this to break him and want him to stay positive, otherwise the next 4 weeks are going to be hell for him

In the meantime I need to know what I can and can't do to help him. Things like check times out - can I speak to people in the bar they were at - his friends that were there beforehand ?

[Saffron]

Hi Worried Mother

I would pass all the details of these people to your solicitor. Do not give them to the police. There is not a great deal your sol can do until he is charged (*if* he is charged) but it will be helpful for you to gather this information (names and contact details etc) in preparation. Tempting as it is to "interview" these people yourself, please resist. By all means contact the pub/club they were in and ask them not to tape over the CCTV footage.

Try to keep busy, it stops the mind from wandering.

Let us know how you get on