The idea
Rape or other sexual assault against a woman, man or young person is something which rightly, society finds abhorrent. However, we continually see cases where the accused is found not guilty, or the case is dropped before any trial, because it has been established that the complainant had made up the allegation. Because of the way such offences are viewed our society, people wrongly or falsely accused lose their employment, home, family and the stigma of having been accused often makes it impossible for them to regain their normal life.
Why is it important?
The need to extend the right to anonymity of people accused of such assaults has been well documented. Indeed even in the recent Home Affairs Committee in its Report Chaired by Chris Mullin MP: THE CONDUCT OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO PAST CASES OF ABUSE IN CHILDREN'S HOMES made the recommendation that those accused should have anonymity.
The reason for not extending anonymity would appear to be the way in which the press are able to inflame people’s fears about abuse and rape by running story upon story about these allegations. Where allegations are found to be false, the press do not publish this as widely and we see the victims of false accusations with their lives ruined.