A type of sexual assault defined by lack of consent and coercive or forceful acts.
Independent and BBC report on separate incidents: a Tottenham man accused of rape and murder across multiple 2025 cases at Old Bailey; and Amaaz’s sentencing for assaulting officers at Liverpool Airport in 2024, with public reaction and ongoing investigations.
A 16-year-old pupil is on trial at Swansea Crown Court for wounding with intent after stabbing a teacher at Milford Haven Comprehensive School in February. The teacher, Vicki Williams, sustained a head wound and other injuries; the pupil denies attempted murder and other charges. The case includes CCTV evidence and testimonies from Williams and court witnesses. The trial is ongoing.
An ongoing operation into group-based child sexual exploitation in south Wales has led to eight men being charged across Newport, Swansea, London, Birmingham, Lancashire, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute. The charges involve rape of minors and facilitating sexual exploitation dating from 1985 to 1996. Prosecutions continue.
Andrew and Tristan Tate have been arrested by US Marshals in Miami after Britain has brought 38 new charges including rape, trafficking and offences relating to indecent images. The Crown Prosecution Service has requested extradition to the UK; the brothers have denied wrongdoing and await initial federal court proceedings in Florida.
Daniel Siad, 69, who is linked to Epstein’s trafficking network, has been found dead in Colombes, France. Investigators are conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death while continuing to examine his alleged role in facilitating Epstein’s crimes.
The Tate brothers face UK extradition on charges including rape and trafficking. U.S. authorities have arrested them in Miami and Britain has sought extradition; the White House says it will honor treaties and will not intervene. Barron Trump’s alleged ties to the case are under close scrutiny as lawmakers push for more transparency.
The Tate brothers have been detained in a U.S. federal facility while prosecutors seek their extradition to the United Kingdom to face dozens of charges including rape and sex trafficking. A detention hearing has been scheduled for August 13 as the US and UK pursue the case across multiple jurisdictions.
Abdul Khan has been jailed for nine and a half years for two rapes and multiple sexual offences against a 13-year-old girl after meeting her at a Clifton nature reserve. He arrived in the UK in 2015 hidden in a lorry and faces automatic deportation on completing part of his sentence.
Scottish Green MSP Q Manivannan has faced widespread condemnation after saying rape is a spectrum, prompting apologies and calls for leadership from Green co-leaders. The comments, made in a podcast last year, are being revisited as survivors’ groups reiterate there is no hierarchy of rape and demand accountability.
Newspaper reports show MPs and police reform bodies intensifying scrutiny over early-release rules for manslaughter convictions after the Berkshire death of PC Andrew Harper. Public anger is mounting as a petition topped 880,000 signatures and officials weigh potential exemptions. Authorities say space in prisons and public safety constrain drastic carve-outs.
The Scottish government has not funded the implementation of a standalone sexual offences court and related measures, despite reforms to end the not proven verdict. Crown Office warns Holyrood that resources are not in place as rape and sexual violence statistics rise, with ongoing calls for timely delivery of promised protections.
Tate and Tristan Tate are in Florida custody while British prosecutors pursue extradition on rape, sex trafficking, and related charges. Their lawyers say online posts are designed to attract attention and income, though prosecutors describe them as evidence of a flight risk. The lawyers argue wealth claims are exaggerated and that rented assets are used for promotional content.
Big changes to England and Wales’ criminal justice system are moving forward as overcrowding drives policy decisions. Government plans to accelerate prison construction and expand early release schemes have been revised after public backlash and safety concerns. Officials are also deporting foreign prisoners and reviewing IPP sentences to free up space, with new measures to monitor released prisoners.
Micro-dramas—short, mobile-first series—are expanding from China to the US, with revenue projections reaching billions. Platforms like Peacock and TikTok are experimenting, while Hollywood talent enters the space, signaling a broader shift in how audiences pay for and consume portable entertainment.
A series of updates on Scotland’s justice system include expanded GPS monitoring for high-risk suspects, a new safety fund for women and girls, and calls for tighter bail conditions. Authorities report rising charges and delays, while victims and advocates press for stronger protections and faster prosecution.
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary has defended previously controversial remarks that compared rival airlines to rapists, saying he has not trivialised rape and will not apologise. The comments have drawn condemnation from victims’ groups and politicians in Ireland and the UK, ahead of Ryanair’s AGM.
The government has announced specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sexual offences will be rolled out to every crown court within two years, with private entrances and trauma-informed training for staff. Trials will be fixed to dates, and funding is set to support victims through the national rape and sexual abuse support fund.