Hysteria and a real abuse of justice

ASA THE world of football struggles to deal with new and appalling allegations of paedophile abuse, Wiltshire police flounder over their costly probe into questionable charges against the late Sir Edward Heath. It is surely time we all found a sensible medium between foolish complacency and frenzied hysteria over this issue.

In the past, it is beyond doubt that cruel c criminals got away with their misdeeds because of a general unwillingness to believe that such things could be going on, and a general failure to investigate.

Those days are now over, but – as the Barry Bennell case shows – the past still needs to be policed.

Child abuse is a terrible crime and must be properly investigated and – where necessary – prosecuted. But the destruction of the reputations of innocent people – living or dead – is also a horrible thing.

And there is simply no need for this to happen if the police and prosecuting authorities learn to treat child abuse like any other crime.

The seriousness of the accusation and the disgusting nature of the alleged offence does not even slightly excuse actions which undermine justice.

It makes them worse. There is a growing number of people, acquitted of any charge, whose lives have even so been permanently blighted. The excuse that other complainants may come forward if the allegation is publicised simply is not a good enough reason for potentially destroying the life of a person who may yet turn out to be innocent. False accusations really do happen.

Two simple principles must guide us in future. The first is that all such charges should be investigated without fear or favour. The second is that this should be done without prejudice too. The foolish idea that accusers in such cases should be ‘believed’ needs to be completely and emphatically dropped.

Accusers should be taken seriously, and treated with respect and consideration. But they should not be exempt from the ancient rules of British justice. Those they accuse must be presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, not just in theory but in practice.

And if anyone, police officer or prosecutor finds it difficult to grasp this point, they should imagine their lives if they were to be falsely accused of such a crime. Of course they should be tough and resolute in pursuit of crime. But they must also be just and careful.