Cliff Richard backs campaign for anonymity of sexual offences suspects

0 Sir Cliif Richard: ‘The worst thing that has happened to me’ Pop star Sir Cliff Richard has thrown his support behind a pressure group campaigning for law reform after he was falsely accused of historical sexual assault.

In 2014 his Berkshire home was raided by police, an event which was covered by the BBC and included the deployment of a TV helicopter. No arrests were made in relation to the accusation, and he did not face charges.

Sir Cliff, 78, is now backing Falsely Accused Individuals for Reform (Fair), a pressure group pushing for anonymity for those accused of sexual offences until there is a charge.

“Beingfalselyaccusedmyself and having that exposed in the media was the worst thing that has happened to me in my entire life,” Sir Cliff said.

“Even though untrue, the stigma is almost impossible to eradicate. Hence the importance of Fair’s campaign to change the law to provide for anonymity before charge in sexual allegations and hence my continued work with Fair in the future.

“Had this proposed change in the law been enacted when the police decided to raid my apartment following the allegations of a fantasist, the BBC would not have been able to film this event, name me (even though the South Yorkshire Police had decided not to) and so plunge my life and those close to me into fear and misery.”

He previously said that the trauma of the coverage had left him emotionally drained. The singer has since sued the BBC for invasion of privacy, winning £210,000 in damages.

Daniel Janner QC, whose father was the late Labour peer Lord Janner, is the founder and secretary of Fair and described Sir Cliff’s support as an “enormous boost to our important work.

“It is a privilege and honour that Sir Cliff has added his support.”