Karen#1
Well-known member
TONY ORTEGA
Excerpt:
[Amir Essalhi, Alex Barnes-Ross, Danielle Chamberlain and Zoe Hancock in June]
Here’s the latest from Alex Barnes-Ross in London…
In June, Amir Essalhi, Danielle Chamberlin, and Zoe Hancock joined me in delivering a petition to 10 Downing Street. Co-signed by the Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation, it called on the UK Government to open an inquiry into Scientology’s abusive practices and was accompanied by dozens of survivor stories, written in their own words, to demonstrate the scale and breadth of the issue.
Now, the Government has responded, and it’s strong.
In the UK, coercive control is recognised as an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2015. However, it only applies when it occurs within a domestic setting. That means although your husband, wife, or family member would go to jail for using manipulative and coercive tactics, if a life coach, religious minister, or employer were to do the exact same thing there would be no repercussions. In our letter to the Prime Minister, we highlighted this legislative gap and noted how four words, “in a domestic setting” prevents survivors from seeking justice in a variety of contexts — not just in Scientology.
The Government’s response seems to miss the mark, suggesting that amending the law would “reduce its clarity” and negatively impact domestic abuse victims. But we are not asking for the offence or the behaviours identified in current prosecution guidelines to change. Rather, that its application be no longer restricted exclusively to domestic settings. The Government recognised that coercive and controlling behaviour may occur outside of close, family relationships — as well as the long-lasting trauma it causes — but would not commit to providing an avenue for victims to seek justice.
Survivors can seek support through the National Referral Mechanism, the Government says. However, this system is fundamentally flawed as it lacks guidance on how to help those affected by cults. There is currently no framework in place for front line workers to identify cult survivors, let alone offer them the appropriate help.
READ MORE
tonyortega.substack.com
Excerpt:
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[/td]Here’s the latest from Alex Barnes-Ross in London…
In June, Amir Essalhi, Danielle Chamberlin, and Zoe Hancock joined me in delivering a petition to 10 Downing Street. Co-signed by the Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation, it called on the UK Government to open an inquiry into Scientology’s abusive practices and was accompanied by dozens of survivor stories, written in their own words, to demonstrate the scale and breadth of the issue.
Now, the Government has responded, and it’s strong.
In the UK, coercive control is recognised as an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2015. However, it only applies when it occurs within a domestic setting. That means although your husband, wife, or family member would go to jail for using manipulative and coercive tactics, if a life coach, religious minister, or employer were to do the exact same thing there would be no repercussions. In our letter to the Prime Minister, we highlighted this legislative gap and noted how four words, “in a domestic setting” prevents survivors from seeking justice in a variety of contexts — not just in Scientology.
The Government’s response seems to miss the mark, suggesting that amending the law would “reduce its clarity” and negatively impact domestic abuse victims. But we are not asking for the offence or the behaviours identified in current prosecution guidelines to change. Rather, that its application be no longer restricted exclusively to domestic settings. The Government recognised that coercive and controlling behaviour may occur outside of close, family relationships — as well as the long-lasting trauma it causes — but would not commit to providing an avenue for victims to seek justice.
Survivors can seek support through the National Referral Mechanism, the Government says. However, this system is fundamentally flawed as it lacks guidance on how to help those affected by cults. There is currently no framework in place for front line workers to identify cult survivors, let alone offer them the appropriate help.
READ MORE
UK government responds to petition about Scientology delivered to 10 Downing Street
Here’s the latest from Alex Barnes-Ross in London…
tonyortega.substack.com
