Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

Perhaps the witch hunters are happy now.

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

Well I've noticed the tone in the media has changed quite a lot today. Naming names and 'Baying for blood' is all very well until some is spilled and regardless of what this guy did/didn't do his family certainly don't deserve this. I wouldn't be surprised if more don't follow, some who've done very little wrong. :shrug:

I heard a guy on radio earlier. He'd called in to relate what'd happened to him. He'd been accused of a serious matter and the police had immediately taken away all his phones, computers for forensic examination etc. The 'investigation' lasted '16 months of hell' before it was decided that there was no basis to the allegations and the whole thing was dropped. He suffered terribly, lost his job, became depressed and suicidal and is still living with the aftermath of the whole episode. His accuser was never named and no action was taken against her...

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

Source

Another one bites the dust. This looks like it will run and run.

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

Indeed there is quite a lot more sexual-harassment allegations to come out from what the PM and opposition leader were told late last week.

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

I think the police need to work on the speed of forensic examinations. There have been many stories of people being left in limbo for over a year whilst these take place.

I am not sure the case you are talking about as I didn't hear it but as for no action being taken against her it's important to remember that an unproven accusation is not therefore malicious or fake. We don't want a justice system where the accusation of a crime is either proven or the accuser is in trouble.

---------- Post added at 10:25 ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 ----------

Labour could well have handled the accusations better for all concerned here. It's still right though that accusers feel safe to come forward and their complaints are investigated and, so long as they didn't make it up, the accusers are not responsible for it.

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

No we don't but what we have is a situation in which you, I our one of our loved ones can have their entire lives turned upside down (including their innocent families and loved ones) and even destroyed when there's no evidence at all. That's where we're at right now and have been for far too long with people even being named publicly. If we're going to take every allegation seriously then I'm afraid the authorities need to get their act together or take responsibility for the incredible damage done to those who were innocent. All too many of them. Time will tell whether Mr Sargeant did anything much wrong and if it turns out he didn't then maybe the powers that be will start to take this seriously. They're certainly not right now, in their clamour to support 'victims' they're entirely overlooking the accused.

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

Yes and we probably need to revise how we handle these cases. I don't know a lot of how these things are handled but it seems to me anonymity should be given to the accused until they're convicted or if a judge deems it in the public interest.

I think historically the rate of false accusations is very low and clearly a lot of people have been getting away with sexual assault for far too long though so we also need to be careful we don't fall back into that kind of environment.

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

Yes and we probably need to revise how we handle these cases. I don't know a lot of how these things are handled but it seems to me anonymity should be given to the accused until they're convicted or if a judge deems it in the public interest.

I think historically the rate of false accusations is very low and clearly a lot of people have been getting away with sexual assault for far too long though so we also need to be careful we don't fall back into that kind of environment.

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

What possible public interest could be served by revealing the name of the accused when they (I quote Osem here) "can have their entire lives turned upside down and even destroyed when there's no evidence at all."?

What possible public interest other than gossip could exist?

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

In the case of historical allegations a case can be built up by more people coming forward to the police and their testimony being similar. If there are details to the assaults that show a pattern and those details were not public then the prosecution can use that in court. If Saville had been alive when it all came out then that's how they would have gotten him because in the end all these women had similar stories.

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

Yes, maybe someone could explain that for us and what attention is ever paid to the impact on innocent families, children etc.

It's perfectly obvious that achieving political advantage is a key factor in much of what's going on here with regard to Westminster. In the current media feeding frenzy we're witnessing a great many people have been so keen to smear their opponents at every opportunity that they've overlooked possible skeletons in their own cupboards. It's very unedifying and says a lot about the sort of people some of our political masters are and what depths they'll plumb to get their way.

---------- Post added at 15:00 ---------- Previous post was at 14:54 ----------

All the more reason for the media not to publicise the very 'facts' which could be used by others to make false claims. Let's be clear, that right now innocent people are being subjected to a process of investigation which leaves them being treated as guilty until proven innocent for very long periods of time with permanent damage to their lives, careers and finances. I don't see how that can be justified at all.

Re: Westminster Sexual Allegations
 

I can see both sides of the argument, and I know that such investigations can be assisted by the publicity. However, they can also be hampered by publicity seeking idiots and those seeking financial compensation.

I think the rules need looking at again, and the name of the accused should be revealed only if a judge considered there to be compelling evidence to justify doing so.

Anyone accused of such a crime is very vulnerable the way things stand, because the old adage that you are found guilty only if the charge can be proved 'beyond reasonable doubt' seems to be watered down for these sorts of allegations.

However, the victims of these crimes are vulnerable too, because proving that someone committed a serious sexual assault is difficult, as there are normally only two witnesses.

I would have thought that the police should investigate such crimes carefully, using modern techniques, but they should not make assumptions either way until they have the evidence.

What happened in the Ted Heath case is an example of the deplorable standards of investigation that are taking place these days. It is quite disturbing.

Maybe a Royal Commission should be set up to review how these cases are dealt with. The Justice system doesn't seem to be fit for purpose at the moment, with people who are innocent being put through the ringer and often prosecuted, while too many victims don't get treated properly or have their complaints properly investigated. Omnishambles is the word that comes to mind.