interview with newspaper

[utterlydestroyed]

Hi Guyz

Sorry not posted recently, have been deeply depressed and also fighting on some other issues. (If you read the front page of the Independent newspaper a few days ago about a gay teenager being deported back to Iran to face execution for beng gay, then you will know what case i've been working on).

I have been checking here tho & you have 'all' still been in my thoughts.

However, my local paper ran some feature articles over a period of weeks about rape. Absoloutly NOTHING about the impact & effect upon those falsely accused tho...

...which made me mad, so I contacted them.

I'm being interviewed tomorrow. Don't you just know I'm going to be banging the 'corrupt & dishonest' homophobic police aspect in rape allegation cases.

This is a responce on 'male rape allegation', but to those 'falsely accused' the effects are pretty similar I imagine, whether the false accuser be male or female.

Although not a national newspaper it is a Big local newspaper, which is read all over the world by x-pats.

Any aspects you guyz want me to try to put across???

hugz x

UD

[Saffron]

ooh, i should have read this post before i asked whether you have been on holiday! sorry....

sorry you have been feeling down, i hope the clouds are liftng for you. good on you for challenging your local paper about the rape article. Is your interview going to contain your name? might be a good way of shutting your accuser up...he has been telling people that you are in prison, hasn't he? well, surely you wouldn't be able to give an interview if you were....

as for issues you could raise: i think it would be good to focus on the fact that the current legal system is so skewed in favour of the complainant that as the defendant you have to more or less prove your innocence - a total reversal of the justice system's "innocent until proven guilty" tenet. When arrested for rape, the police tread on eggshells around the victim, and do not question their accounts at all. whereas the accused is instantly assumed to be guilty. The police do not act as evidence-gatherers, merely as "casebuilders" and will happily ignore evidence that clears the defendant.

once a rape allegation is made public, there is an automatic assumption of guilt on behalf of the defendant by the "no smoke without fire" brigade. Generally, people find it very hard to understand WHY anyone would fabricate a rape, and therefore their sympathies lie with the "victim". Rape and sexual assasult is the only crime that does not require corroboration, and the jury are simply asked to decide who they believe. therefore the credibility of the defendant and the accuser is pivotal.

In R's case, the prosecution barrister asked him all manner of questions about his sex life - how many partners he had had, how many one night stands, whether he had ever cheated on a partner, etc etc. By contrast, our barrister was not allowed to ask HER anything. This despite the fact she is a recreational drug user, regularly cheats on her partner, and frequently had threesomes with her boss and another female colleague. (At this point i would like to say that of course promiscuity does not mean that she cannot be raped or sexually assaulted, but you get the picture?) So, the jury were led to believe that my husband was a promiscuous, predatory individual, while she was portrayed as being virginal.

and at court, who are the jury more likely to believe - the defendant standing in the dock with an armed guard, or the "victim" weeping behind a screen, "too frightened" to face their attacker? there is an automatic and immediate inference of criminality for the defendant, and victim status for the complainant.

grrr. Sorry UD, rant over....

[utterlydestroyed]

No need to apologise Saff, you comments are always valued.

I'll use aspects of your paragraphs 2 & 3. Thanx

As you are aware my case never went to court, NFA'd, no charges, but the damadge was done by the homophobic attitudes & practises of the police, as it was in the public domain. (This on top of other homophobic police conduct against me).

So Help me create a tick list of impact & effect.

loss of earnings
loss of employment
loss of social status
loss of trust (by others)
loss of trust (in the system)
loss of home (I was thinking here of RFLH)
loss of family

no compensation to falsely accused
no anonnmity to falsely accused
no support structure (present company accepted)

Refusal of (corrupt police) to prosecute those who make false allegation.

emotional impact:- despair & trauma, suicidel feelings, drug/alchohol dependency?

AND THE BIG ONE:- Corrupt, dishonest police & judicial system!!!

add to my list please...

I'm not entirely sure what angle the paper is taking which is why I want to ensure I get my messege across (and that of others falsely accussed)


I recently attempted to try to get councelling through the local mental health team as I have been plagued by depression, suicidal thoughts & desires to petrol bomb the homophobic w**kers at the local police station. (not going to happen but constantly in my thoughts) It was a no go to get help...as you have to go through your GP...and that is not going to happen as it becomes a permenant record, accessible to future employers & insurance companies upon request. Falsely acussed lose out again!

[RFLH]

well done UD - more publicity the better.

I can't say that anything else springs to mind, but what's the betting RF comes up with a salient point!

[Saffron]

Hey UD

i went to my GP to seek counselling over my own depression when R was accused. as i understand it, it is only accessible to others (incl future employers) if you give your consent. and if you don't give your consent there could be any number of reasons as to why. doctors take the Hippocratic Oath for a reason. I have worked for 2 major bluechips, and neither of them asked for access to my medical records. (mind you, back then i had nothing to hide except having had my tonsils out!)

With regard to your tick list - i think it is all pretty much there.

This is obviously something you feel you need to do for yourself, and i applaud that. but (and please please don't take this the wrong way) if you want to give us a voice, us who have been falsely accused or who are partners of those falsely accused, then it would be a good idea to give all aspects of a false allegation equal gravity, regardless of sexuality.

by the way, if you come up my way and want to petrolbomb the w*nk3r5 on the beat in my village, i will provide the bottles, petrol and rags....

good luck for tomorrow!

[Ann]

The family

Please don't forget the effect on the family of the falsely accused - my health is in a total mess I am in a total state of fear and close to a breakdown. I cannot work properly which in turn has a massive effect on all around me and they don't deserve it. My life will never be the same again
Ann

[utterlydestroyed]

Well that went well...I think!

Two and a half hours of interview with a journalist... (There is a donkey somewhere with no hind legs now, lol ).

Sorry, I may not have made it clear, the article is in responce SPECIFICALLY about male to male rape allegation, but rest assured Ann & Saff, I have put forward that the impact upon those falsely accused (& their friends/family) is regardless of gender of the accuser... and IS profound & long lasting.

The journalist was in absoloutly NO DOUBT as to my sincerity regarding strength of feeling regarding CORRUPT (& homophobic attitudes & practises, in my case) of police & their failings, especially that of failing in pursuing those who make false allegation. Especially (like in my case) where there are witnesses & physical/material evidence which clearly establish the falsehood of the allegation made against me, completely and utterly ignored by CORRUPT police officers.

I really banged the drum regarding the failure of police to pursue those who make false allegation & the harm caused emotionally/financially & destruction of trust in the deeply flawed discriminatary system.

I also had one of the gay eye-witnesses present who put in their five penny worth...since the police REFUSED to interview them!

I pointed out that there is NOTHING in the way of support, recompenstion for those falsely accused (or those affected by proxy) other than voluntary run (big cheer for webmoo) sites like this one and those who contribute. I pointed out the gross failure of duty of care by police to those falsely accused in the shoddy & unprofessional manor such cases are handled by police (in my experience).

I made the point repeatedly at the lack of honesty, lack of integrity, lack of impartiality & lack of transparency of conduct (four primary parts of the police code of conduct) I had personaly experienced from police (and that this was the experience of some others reported on websites such as this)

The article not due out for a fortnight (due to Easter etc)

Err, I think I have another two interview/articles lined up on related other topics regarding institutional homophobia.

Why do it...to help blow the myths that police are to be trusted (they are not) in the manor in which they conduct these cases. Police failing to persue those who make false allegation and the lack of anonimity to those falsely accused & the damage caused, whilst the real pepetrators of false allegation are allowed complete security of anonimity.

...and yes, myself & the other members of our household anticipate yet another 'unlogged' visit from the police & further intimidation & threats from them. We now have a camera & recording equipment standing by. I take the view someone has to stand up to these thugs & bullies who wear police uniforms.

The most likely person to homophobically violate & abuse me as a gay person...is STILL a police officer!

[Saffron]

Well done UD! (that poor donkey...)

please post up the link when the article is published, I am sure there are lots of people who would be interested to read it.
Keep those cameras and mics at the ready. Good luck!

[utterlydestroyed]

Well they published the article in the local newspapers today!

Unfortunately it was slightly over shadowed by the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) deciding to publish a summary of their earlier 2006 findings of my complaints against police.

Do I have any trust or faith in the Police Complaints Commission...NO!

They FAILED to investigate ALL the complaints.
They FAILED (by their own admission) to interview fourteen witnesses
They FAILED to take ALL of the complaints and the interconnected nature of them and the impact and effect it had upon vulnerable lgbt witnesses.

Would I reccommend anyone to take a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission...NO!

You will in my personal experience only be further abused & violated by a discriminatary & prejudicial system designed to smooth over police misconduct and even criminality. That is my bitter experience.

Do I trust my local police force...NO. Deffinately not. I know through bitter experience that homophobic prejudical attitudes are endemic, embedded & PROTECTED within my local police force!

....Back to the published newspaper article...I am happy at the general message conveyed by the journalist and it was a 'stance back' for those of us falsely accused. However, I can no longer remain annonyomus on here as my name was published (with my permission). So it looks like I will have to 'come out of the closet' on here too, so to speak.

So this is me...
http://www.pinkpasty.blogspot.com
and here..
http://www.youtube.com/thepinkpasty

PLEASE, do watch the videos even though they are off topic...especially watch...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVjVRGTXr_A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfecwvTx9rM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CItglakLvjk

As I said I have been a bit of a gay equality & HIV/AIDS campaigner over two decades if you read my mini biog!

Back to the local newspaper item...

I will have to type it out in another window as it is not appearring on the newspaper website to create a link... which I will do in due course.

I'll be back shortly...with the newspaper article typed out.

Hugz

UD (aka PinkPasty)

[utterlydestroyed]

Well here is the 1st part of the article.

As I said the IPCC report over shadowed the intended aspect of dealing with the issue of ‘Falsely accused’.

The Article in two parts!

Thursday April 3rd 2008. Cornishman Newspaper (pg 28) & West Briton Newspaper (pg 36)

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

HEADING: POLICE ARE STILL TRYING TO BUILD TRUST!

We (West Briton & Cornishman newspapers*) recently published a series of features on sexual violence. Statistics show the majority of such crimes are never reported to the police. But what happens when someone is falsely accused of rape?
Phillipa Sackman spoke to one man whose complaints about his experience have been investigated by the police watchdog.

Complaints by a Helston man about homophobia in the Devon & Cornwall constabulary have been dismissed by the police watchdog (IPCC*).

But the report into the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPPC) probe has made nine recommendations to ensure that cases involving lesbian gay bisexual & transgender (LGBT) people are in future better handled. Complaints were made by ‘gay rights’ campaigner Malcolm Lidbury, whose story about being falsely accused of rape is told below.

He complained that the force was inherently homophobic and made 16 complaints against eight officers, alleging poor treatment because he was homosexual. The investigation involved interviews with police and witnesses, a public ‘surgery’ for anyone who felt they had information, and an examination of paperwork, records and notes.

Though no complaint was substantiated, the IPCC made nine recommendations including advice on how cases were finalised and people involved informed of the conclusion, and that seized property should be returned quickly. The recommendations highlight the importance of accurately recording information on incident logs, and following correct procedures when serving summons.

At a more general level, the investigation raised concerns about under-reporting of homophobic incidents or crimes, and that some felt the police did not take issues like gay domestic violence seriously. It said the force acknowledged it had dealt poorly with the gay community, but now had a successful LGBT liaison group. It praised the forces diversity strategy, which aimed to develop ‘an anti discriminatory human right led policing culture which recognises, respects and values diversity, but noted that the diversity team in Cornwall was understaffed.

A force spokesperson said the force welcomed the publication of the IPCC’s report. The constabulary had a strong commitment to ensuring its services were accessible to all sections of the community and recognised that it needed to listen to the concerns of the LGBT communities.

The IPCC report highlighted the impact that a lack of trust and confidence may have on reporting reporting of incidents. The constabulary recognised the importance of this and was actively working with community partners to address some of the barriers to reporting incidents identified.

“The constabulary accepts that there is still work to be done in building trust and confidence, and any feedback, either directly or through partners, can only be of help in achieving this aim”

END of first part of newspaper article:-

(My response to the police statement:- What a bucket of boullucs, hogwash & whitewash!

The original IPCC notification I received in writing made TWENTY TWO recommendations?
The IPCC admit they did not interview fourteen witnesses.
The IPCC failed to investigate all the complaints and have refused to investigate further abusive conduct by Cornwall police officers since.
It is a complete sham on the part of the IPCC.
Since the IPCC report, several further homophobic abuse incidents have been reported to Cornwall police & completely IGNORED!

Cornwall police remain every bit as homophobic as they have always been. Personally, I would not trust a Cornwall police officer with anything as valuable as a stain on a piece of used toilet tissue. Police corruption in covering up misconduct of their fellow police officers is commonplace & rife in my personal experience and observation.

Witnesses have been ignored by police, evidence has been ignored by police, laws & guidelines have been ignored by police.

Gay people in Cornwall are every bit as vulnerable today from homophobically motivated police conduct as they have always been. Numerous complaints & incidents remain completely un-investigated still.

I know THE MAJORITY of Cornwall police officers I have had dealings with are dishonest &, prejudicial and have had a serious adverse effect upon how I now view police.

NB: There has been one notable exception, a local community officer who dealt with an incident of homophobic abuse & physical threats of violence made against a gay person on an internet social website. However, this isolated example of excellence in policing gay hate crime, is in Cornwall, the EXCEPTION not the rule.

The Cornwall police now point-blank refuse to investigate a number of homophobic incidents reported involving their own officers!

I strongly advise any gay person to have a witness present with ANY dealings they may have with members of this, what I have experienced, is a CORRUPT& homophobic police force.)

Second part of Newspaper article to follow: (after a coffee & lunch break):-

[utterlydestroyed]

Part Two of Newspaper article:-
This is more relevent and on topic.

Newspaper article part two begins:-

CASE STUDY:

Malcolm Lidbury, who is bisexual, has twice been accused of rape, once by a woman and once by a man.
Both times police investigated the reports that were made and in BOTH cases no further action was taken.
But Mr Lidbury, who lives near Helston and is a long standing campaigner on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, has to live with the stigma attached to the allegations. He believes it has marked him forever.

He said ”I understand what effect rape must have on those who suffer such crimes. But in my experience, I’ve been falsely accused of rape by two people who consented to sex, yet later decided to tell the police they had been raped.
“They had their own agendas. In both cases, they had sex with other people the same evening, but it was me they reported – the only one who is openly gay.
“I’ve been left to cope with the effects of what they did and my life has been changed forever because of it”

Not only was he arrested, questioned by police, and held at a police station, he also had the home he shares with his mother searched and personal possessions seized. And it was months before he knew if he would be charge, or had his possessions returned. But he later found out his accusers were told much sooner that no further action would be taken over both allegations.

Mr Lidbury has also been subjected to false rumours spread throughout Cornwall’s gay and bisexual community and on the internet. He said “ I contacted the police when I saw what was being said on a social networking site on the internet – that I had ‘not only been charged with rape but was currently in prison for the crime’, but they (police*) said they could do nothing”

“The injustice is astounding. If you are an accuser, it seems to me that the whole system tries to help you, but if you are the accused, no one helps, even if the allegations are unfounded. I’m horrified at the number of people there may be like me, who have NO address against what has been said and done, and the number of other people like my elderly mother who are also affected by being dragged into things”.

As a result of his experience Mr Lidbury says he can no longer work and suffers from depression, and is at times suicidal. He said “ I know the damage that has been done to me – my life feels like a Salem Witch Hunt. But I’m savvy and a fighter – what about the guys who haven’t the confidence to stand up for themselves?
I am appalled by the people who brought the allegations knowing they were false, but I’m equally appalled by the way I have been treated”.
“They talk about diversity, but homophobia is still endemic in the police and in many institutions in Cornwall”

The local newspaper article end:-

The above was a full page article.
I would have liked of course for the article to have exposed more fully the abusive misconduct & treatment myself & others have received from Cornwall police.
I would have liked it to have exposed police poked at, but IGNORED physical evidence (condoms)
I would have liked it to have exposed police REFUSED to interview gay eye-witnesses.
I would have liked it to have exposed police IGNORED text message records where the false accuser ADMITS it was a false allegations.
I would have liked it to have fully exposed the prejudicial misconduct I have personally experienced from named & identifiable corrupt Cornwall police officers.
I would have liked it to have pressed for the prosecution of those who make ‘false rape allegation’

In general, it was a good article in a paper which generally sucks up to local police and I sincerely thank the journalist and editor responsible for the eventual article.

The bottom line, as a gay person ‘falsely accused’, I KNOW by first hand experience DEVON & CORNWALL POLICE to be corrupt dishonest & homophobic in their attitudes and practises AGAINST gay persons and No amount of IPCC whitewash will cover that up for me or other informed gay/bi/str8 persons and/or witnesses affected as a result.

Gay people STILL have EVERY reason to fear a prejudicial Police force in Cornwall and those falsely accused of rape are still not treated fairly.

Hugz

UD