New research shows that ONLY 0.6% of rape accusations are false in the UK

[Supersonic 49,376]

* The Crown Prosecution Service has come a long way in dealing with cases involving violence against women and girls. In the last year (2011-12) we have seen the conviction rate rise to 73%, delivering the lowest attrition rates ever recorded. The CPS has now published a trailblazing report on so-called "false allegations" of rape or domestic violence.

In recent years both the police and prosecutors have put a great deal of effort into improving the way we investigate and prosecute s-xual offences. The results of the changes and improvements that have been made are encouraging. Our committed and specialist staff have prioritised performance in these important and difficult cases. We have bolstered training, policies and guidance for rape and domestic violence specialists. Closer working with the police and specialist services has helped to address the types of ingrained practices that can ignore, or even add to, the victimisation of women and girls. But there is still more that we must do to improve.

In recent years we have worked hard to dispel the damaging myths and stereotypes associated with these cases. One such misplaced belief is that false allegations of rape and domestic violence are rife. This report presents a more accurate picture.

At the outset it is important that we acknowledge the very damaging impact that a false allegation of rape or s-xual assault – be it either malicious or misguided – can have on the person falsely accused. Reputations can be ruined and lives can be devastated as a result. Such cases will be dealt with robustly and those falsely accused should feel confident that the CPS will prosecute these cases wherever there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.

However, these cases can be extremely complicated. In November 2010, the court of appeal considered an appeal against sentence in the case of Ms A, who ultimately pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice on the basis that she had falsely retracted true allegations of rape she had made against her husband. This case underlined the need for police and prosecutors fully to investigate and carefully to consider the circumstances in which an allegedly false claim of rape, s-xual assault, or domestic violence is made.

Following this case and in order further to support prosecutors in their decision making, I published new legal guidance on perverting the course of justice in July 2011. For a period of 17 months, I also required CPS areas to refer all cases involving an allegedly false allegation of rape, domestic violence, or both, to me personally to consider.

This report outlines the key findings from the review of those cases and the steps that we plan to take. Importantly, what it shows is that charges brought for perverting the course of justice or wasting police time for such "false" allegations need to be considered in the context of the total number of prosecutions brought for those offences. In the period of the review, there were 5,651 prosecutions for rape and 111,891 for domestic violence. During the same period there were 35 prosecutions for making false allegations of rape, six for making false allegation of domestic violence and three for making false allegations of both rape and domestic violence.

Furthermore, the report shows that a significant number of these cases involved young, often vulnerable people. About half of the cases involved people aged 21 years old and under, and some involved people with mental health difficulties. In some cases, the person alleged to have made the false report had undoubtedly been the victim of some kind of offence, even if not the one that he or she had reported.

This review has highlighted the complex nature of these cases. Prosecutors need to look critically at the behaviour and credibility of all those involved, not just the person making the complaint. In addition, the events of the last year have demonstrated that there is an urgent need for an informed national debate about the proper approach to the investigation and prosecution of s-xual offences. That debate needs to extend well beyond the CPS and the police.

I know that this report will help us to ensure that we are able to make consistent and sound decisions in cases involving allegedly false allegations. I hope, too, that it will help to inform the wider debate. I look forward to working with colleagues and stakeholders on these important issues.

source: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/mar/13/false-allegations-rape-domestic-violence-rare

If you'd like the full report, check it out here: http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/research/perverting_course_of_justice_march_2013.pdf

[Economy 52,968]

well, many "false" alligations are probably never discovered so my guess is that its a bit higher than this... even so, encouraging numbers even if the real number was double this amount

 

i also like their way of working better in investigations.

 

I read it quickly cause theres a lot to read... if i missed something important someone please enlighten me

[Supersonic 49,376]

well, many "false" alligations are probably never discovered so my guess is that its a bit higher than this... even so, encouraging numbers even if the real number was double this amount

​What makes you think that false allegations are not discovered? I've heard so many people talk about "false rape accusations" that it would come to my mind instantly that somebody would countersue immediately after being accused

Also this part is very important imo:

"Furthermore, the report shows that a significant number of these cases involved young, often vulnerable people. About half of the cases involved people aged 21 years old and under, and some involved people with mental health difficulties. In some cases, the person alleged to have made the false report had undoubtedly been the victim of some kind of offence (sic), even if not the one which he or she had reported."

[Brandon 457]

You should read the research again and change the title and your post.

The research is not showing that "ONLY 0.6% of the rape accusations are false in the UK". Isn't even possible. 

[Supersonic 49,376]

You should read the research again and change the title and your post.

The research is not showing that "ONLY 0.6% of the rape accusations are false in the UK". Isn't even possible. 

​I just copied the title from the site I got it because I was too lazy to do the math myself and think of a new title.
But I do understand your point, there was one scenario where a wife revoked her rape claims against her husband because she went back to him and it got counted as a false accusation for the statistics. Further investigation/counseling showed that her initial allegations were true, but she was so stuck into the abusive relationship that she couldn't break out of the domestic violence patterns.

If anything, it definitely shows that even to all those "false" accusations there is aggression, violence, rape & truth behind it after all.

[ItsTommyBitch 12,640]

This is good; I think its important to dispel the belief that false-rape allegations are the norm.

However, statistics can be misleading on both sides of the argument. Even in America with the 2-8/10% statistic, there is more room for accuracy both for and against it. Regardless, I'm fairly convinced that the nature of these crimes, combined with the additive, inevitable "unknown-ness" of these, places me on the side of rape victims almost always.

To be considered "false", can mean that the person who accused someone of rape has simply recanted their statement, or there was insufficient evidence;this gives quite a bit of lee-way on the side of false-rape allegations being less rooted in simply "lying." There are plenty of reasons why someone recants or there isn't much evidence. The myth of a "perfect-rape victim" in order to be believed is actually pretty disgusting. On the other hand, there are certainly more false-rape accusations than we can account for as well. We can't know for sure. We also know that there are many many many unaccounted for rape and s-xual assaults that are never even reported or not even thought of as "rape" by the victims. Regardless false-rape accusations are not everyday occurrences that men should conflate to as being on the same level of actually being raped  Btw, we don't even talk about false-rape allegations towards women  (because #Patriarchy ) 

[uo111 5,283]

This is good; I think its important to dispel the belief that false-rape allegations are the norm.

However, statistics can be misleading on both sides of the argument. Even in America with the 2-8/10% statistic, there is more room for accuracy both for and against it. Regardless, I'm fairly convinced that the nature of these crimes, combined with the additive, inevitable "unknown-ness" of these, places me on the side of rape victims almost always.

To be considered "false", can mean that the person who accused someone of rape has simply recanted their statement, or there was insufficient evidence;this gives quite a bit of lee-way on the side of false-rape allegations being less rooted in simply "lying." There are plenty of reasons why someone recants or there isn't much evidence. The myth of a "perfect-rape victim" in order to be believed is actually pretty disgusting. On the other hand, there are certainly more false-rape accusations than we can account for as well. We can't know for sure. We also know that there are many many many unaccounted for rape and s-xual assaults that are never even reported or not even thought of as "rape" by the victims. Regardless false-rape accusations are not everyday occurrences that men should conflate to as being on the same level of actually being raped  Btw, we don't even talk about false-rape allegations towards women  (because #Patriarchy ) 

​As in a man falsely accusing a woman of rape? Excuse me if I sound uninformed but, does that happen? 


The article is bait worthy. Having 35 cases brought against women for false accusations is nowhere near the same as only 35 rape accusations being false, which is what the article claims.