Time Limit Campaign

The law on time limits is against the survivor of abuse who decides to make a disclosure many years after the event. Support our campaign for a change in the law. The Law Commission suggested that the government change the law as long ago as 2001 but nothing has happened. See this letter sent by David Lammy to Patsy Carlton MP. The government should have introduced the law before now. Send a letter of support to your MP. Download a copy .

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For all compensation claims legal proceedings have to be started within 3 years for negligence and 6 years for assault. Time doesn't run for children until they are 18 so strictly time runs out at either the age of 21 or 24. This means that an abuser under the present law escapes all liability at civil law after the victim reaches the age of 24. This is thus a law which is tantamount to encouraging the suppression of disclosure by the victim through intimidation or the like, which is all too common in these types of case. For more details see the related links in the side menu. In particular the Law Commission paper

In some Canadian states there is no time limit at all for claims of sexual abuse. The suggested change in the law has been brought about because it was disapproved by the European Court of Human Rights in a case called Stubbings v United Kingdom (1997)

Why is it fair that the survivors of William Goad over 24 cannot claim any of the millionaire's fortunes because of the state of the law, whereas those under 24 can do so? Read the news item

So far all attempts to put pressure on the Department of Constitutional Affairs to introduce the new law have been rebuffed. The more pressure we exert the better, and the greater the likelihood of success.

Thank you for your support.