Your Story

[Boys don't cry]

I only hope the chosen one will be someone you know RF.

[Rights Fighter]

They want more than one person. They are looking for somebody who was falsely accused when they were under the age of 24 and where the accuser was prosecuted.

I know of one such person and will be talking to the family over the weekend.

Thanks BDC

[Dave]

Actually you are wrong. I have had a very long conversation with Declan and they are actually doing something 'new' which cannot be discussed on here - as well as getting both sides of the story.

They are making serious undertakings to preserve anonymity and the angle they are coming from will give the genuinely falsely accused a voice. About time too.

I would add that this is a radio show - not TV. Voice only.

If wrong I am quite prepared to eat me hat, and its a big hat. The proof will be in the pudding.

I look forward to hearing the show.

[Boys don't cry]

If wrong I am quite prepared to eat me hat, and its a big hat. The proof will be in the pudding.

I look forward to hearing the show.

So prepare yourself Dave and don't be a glutton during xmas.

I can't wait to listen to it as well.

[Dave]

It's the BBC, I would suggest not touching this with a very long barge pole, a totally biased organisation who will twist everything so that the accuser is still the 'victim'.

Just my twopenneth.

I realise now that the above, posted by myself a mere newbie, does read a smidgen forward or possibly even arrogant.

But my opinion of journalists and the BBC is from experience.

[Faith]

Unfortunately one cannot tar an entire organisation with one bad experience and advise people based on that.

[Dave]

I can possibly agree with the journalist part of that statement Faith but experience with the BBC is a lifetimes.

[lawlessone2009]

Please bear in mind that the BBC will of course only be interested in cases where there is proof of a false allegation. So, for example, those of us who have been NFA'd wouldn't be considered.

This is aimed at those with NG verdicts or No Crimes where they can show that they have been lied about.

Yeah and that's where the program will FAIL. The majority of those accused have their lives ruined and their images tarnished only for the state to turn round and drop the case but leave them with the lovely markings in their file should the accused ever apply for a job/position where an eCRB is required.

The program as laid out is falling far short of the changes that need to happen. The state needs to stop jumping up and calling everyone a sexual fiend at the slightest allegation. Proper investigative detective work and all that....

The other problem is the affect that false rape allegations have on peoples lives where the accused can never prove that the allegation was false... Those that are supposed to thank themselves lucky that they weren't prosecuted... Where the apparent lack of evidence means the chances of a successful prosecution are slim yet they're still branded sex fiends come eCRB time.

The 'full circle' of government from rampant sexual abuses, such as Jimmy back in the day to, to blanket discrimination against everyone who finds themselves accused.

My thoughts are that the outline for the 'program' follow a well beaten path and won't give members of the public any fresh information to think about. It also hints that those who find themselves stuck in the middle ARE guilty and not worthy of every having a voice.

[Rights Fighter]

The program as laid out is falling far short of the changes that need to happen.

That's not the point of the programme. The point is to raise awareness that a) people ARE falsely accused of hideous crimes and are easily convicted and b) some liars get prosecuted.

[Faith]

Exactly RF

I think it is not a waste of time to show the public that False Allegations do happen.

[lawlessone2009]

That's not the point of the programme. The point is to raise awareness that a) people ARE falsely accused of hideous crimes and are easily convicted and b) some liars get prosecuted.

Yeah... I don't disagree with that one but the probability of people on here having their false accuser admitting to lying or being found out is extremely slim.

Those that have had Not Guilty verdicts returned are in a far higher percentage on here though.

The sensationalist 'proved the accuser a liar and she's off to jail' angle isn't going to materialise so the program will be forced to focus on those that have been through the horrors of a trial not forgetting that the powers that be slant even a Not Guilty verdict towards 'the prosecutor had a bad day'.

The 'cloud' that surrounds those falsely accused of a crime is larger than what is being looked for here and I feel, personally, that the program will fall short of the 'BIGGER picture'. People have their lives torn apart with false allegations of a sexual nature financially, mentally and physically. I am by no means implying that the program is pointless or misses the point or doesn't help with some of the issues I merely feel that there is an opportunity for so much more and it may well be missed. A mini serious focusing on all angles would be a far more beneficial thing and very likely better starting with the story of a genuine rape victim to grip the audience and have them focus on the consequences from the genuine victims view point, then moving onto a victim who went through the trial process only for the accused to be found not guilty. After this move onto the falsely accused who's been found Not Guilty and then the falsely accused who's simply been forgotten about and left to a 'No Further Action' without the opportunity to have their case heard and in some kind of way gain some closure.

Names of individuals or their identities never need to be known and could even be 'acted' on the bases of those who gave their stories. It would be interested to have a prosecutors version of what is involved in taking a case to trial as well as a solicitors/advocates/QCs tale of how they go about defending such allegations. A complete step by step look at the entire system along with politicians opinions and the general publics too... Even get the Police investigators in for a piece!

Have a complete encompassing examination and 'take the viewer by the hand' walk through of what happens to everyone involved and what they do. Focusing on a little area is to be credited but this country consistently does that and never ever gives the bigger picture. The one bit I have missed is the 'financial' angle for everyone involved.

The 'false accusations' are a very small part of a huge cog which really needs to be examined and picked apart. There are improvements that can be made throughout the system. I credit the OP with what they are proposing but would 'encourage' them to look at going further and be more in-depth.

[whatsgoingon?]

I think just as Rome wasn't built in a day this thing won't just go away but every stone counts. So I think it's a very good thing for Declan to be doing this report, and lets hope it will slowly permeate into the public conciousness and other such programs will follow till it's a well-known fact and something which is no longer tolerated. It does seem that 'sexual crimes' has become the new 'terrorism' and lets not forget that the general public, the media and the legal system are feeding off each other. Do the general public really know the effects of sexual abuse and child-abuse in particular or are they just feeding on the 'shock horror left-over from our Victorian forefathers element? Let's not forget many people manage to have a life after such trauma ( I am in NO WAY suggesting it's OK) The effects of bullying at work can also be horrific, can ruin lives and even result in suicide. As are the effects of false accusations - no It's about time social scientists and other professionals really started working on fact v hysteria and the politics thereof and started educating the public at large.

[Izzy]

I look forward to hearing the programme, hope we get a heads up before it airs.

[Angry and frightened]

I agree, whats going on, people do have to differentiate between a genuine rape victim and a fa.
There has been public sympathy for people wrongly convicted of murder cases and terrorism, in recent years, so what is the difference? If you are falsely accused, you are FALSELY ACCUSED! Whatever the crime!

[lawlessone2009]

I agree, whats going on, people do have to differentiate between a genuine rape victim and a fa.
There has been public sympathy for people wrongly convicted of murder cases and terrorism, in recent years, so what is the difference? If you are falsely accused, you are FALSELY ACCUSED! Whatever the crime!

Yeah, but the way this program is having its participants picked would mean that the most unjustly treated, those falsely accused and denied the right to prove it, are being completely ignored.

People who go to trial and return with a Not Guilty verdict at least have closure. Those that never get that opportunity or indeed ANY opportunity to challenge the accusation(s) made against them will never have closure. They're simply supposed to be happy with not being prosecuted yet the 'system' will forever after tarnish them as if they ARE guilty.

I am not denying that the proposed program is a MAJOR step in the right direction all I am implying is that a 'step' could be a 'leap' with not a lot of extra effort. A mini-documentry series started off correctly would have viewers glued to their seats and eagerly awaiting the next episode!

It's not only rape/false allegations that need to be explored. The entire justice system needs to be picked to bits and exposed as the corrupt and over expensive waste of time that it is. Government policies need to be tightened and proper legislation that is clear and concise brought into being.

I commend Declan on his efforts and hope that they are a success but I ask that the hunger that has been born continues to flourish and be fed. Keep stretching those horizons and get far outside the box.