Book Review: Innocence Destroyed: A Study of Child Sexual Abuse
| Date | 01 July 1993 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X9306600320 |
| Published date | 01 July 1993 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
section two,
Sentencing,
hasbeennecessary. Inthisrespect, itis interesting
to notein the preface thatto "reflect theemphasis placedby the Criminal
JusticeAct on assessing theseriousness of theoffence, it is the intention
toinclude in
Anthony
andBerryman'sguidance onseriousness issuedby
the Courtof Appeal whenever thisbecomes available. A start has been
madeby referring brieflyto existing cases wheretheyappearstilltobeof
relevance." These,of
course,
aretobeusedas guidance and notfollowed
slavishly.
Following theimplementation of the RoadTraffic Act,
1991,
section
three has been thoroughly revisedto reflect all the new law and to give
additional information aboutfixed penalties and disqualification.
Furtherchanges arise
from
theChildren Act,particularly with regard
to the Family Proceedings Court and the new Youth Court, so all
magistratesandpractitioners will
continue
tofmdAnthony andBerryman's
auseful
guide.
Mostwillawaitnextyear'seditionwithsomeanticipation,
bearingin mind thecriticisms whichhave arisenin respectof someof its
provisions, but, according to the preface, it is unlikely that the present
editor willembark on the task of preparing it.
INNOCENCE
DESTROYED: A STUDY OF CHll..D SEXUAL
ABUSE, by
Jean
Renvoize. Published by Routledge. Softcover. Price
£12.99.
A studyof childsexualabuseby a writerwho hastravelled extensively in
Britain, the
U.S.A.
andAustralia,
meeting
professionalsinthefieldaswell
as abusers and victims. Her grasp of the problem is obvious from the
comprehensiveness ofthecontents, especially the manycase studies, and
whilst detailsof the most recent research and professional practice are
outlined, one is left with the thought that the size of the problem so
graphically portrayed and its sheercomplexity provide few grounds for
optimism of any foreseeable breakthrough.
A
lengthy
case history sets the scene and immediately opens the
reader's eyes to the
sordid,
yet tragicabyss into whichmany vulnerable
children canfall. The subsequentmisery, sexualtie-upsinlateryearsand
emotional conflictofloyalties arehighlighted throughout thebookas Ms
Renvoize recounts her
findings.
She writes clearly, caringly, but unemotionally, as she presents the
extentofabuseinthethreecountries, andwhetherornottheoverallpicture
isas bad as is paintedby some
fellow
researchers, the problemisof such
amagnitude as to cause us all to be greatlyconcerned.
Bookssuch as hers will helpus to be better informed.
July 1993 The Police
JOUI7UlI
333
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