Victims badly let down by the legal system.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/victim-of-chethams-choirmaster-michael-brewer-1302371

Mrs Andrade's son Oliver said: "Being repeatedly called a 'liar' and a 'fantasist' about a horrific part of her life in front of a court challenged her personal integrity and was more than even she could bear. She was forced to relive the many times Michael Brewer had sexually abused her as a child, both to the police on multiple occasions and in court to a hostile party.

"Having been heavily advised by the police not to receive any form of therapy until the end of the case (a process of almost two years) she was forced to cope on her own with only the support of her family and very close friends. This meant that, even after several attempts at her own life, she did not get the help she needed."

In this trial, the victim killed herself after the long-drawn-out trauma of appearing in court. It seems she was told not to have any psychotherapy until after the trial, and had to retell what happened to her too many times. There is a problem here, the police seem to have to be so careful to follow so many rules to produce evidence which will undoubtedly secure a conviction, but it puts such strain on victims, this system is not working, too many victims are being let down, too many known criminals are not being arrested.

Mile Brewer was a highly respected member of the establishment who fought hard (and dirty) to maintain his position.

How else could he have brought to justice thinking of what has happened in Rochdale over the years?

Dreadful and just so damn sad

If the police and legal system lags behind, with poor and repetitive interviewing, delays lasting for years, and dependence on withholding psychiatric support for victims, victims will continue to have a very bad and destructive experience and criminals will sense that they can operate with impunity. Obviously it's not easy, but the whole criminal system needs sharpening up. We can at least state that obvious truth.