Historic rape accusation, should we change behaviours?

My son was involved in the scouts organisation from beavers to scouts, all leaders bar one were men.

the case was widely reported.
i did not make it up.
i tried to put the salient points, not write an essay.
i'm not sure the woman who counselled the girl was a teacher, hence the ? in my post.
also, initially the girl did not disclose obvious safeguarding issue.
she was emotionally disturbed, neglected by parents.
the counselling happened over a period of time.
she said what she thought the woman wanted .
her one motive was not malicious.
it was a desperate youngster, clinging to an adult.
obviously the woman should have known better.
and police should have thoroughly checked the details of the allegation, as it was easily disproved.

i wrote it from memory, to illustrate a point.
but for those who doubt my bona fides, here is link
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3716388/Ruined-195-000-legal-bill-teacher-cleared-rape-just-26-minutes-Friends-raise-money-help-former-head-geography-left-mentally-physically-crushed-troubled-teen-s-false-allegations.html

The Cleveland report 1987 investigated an increase in reports of child sexual abuse. Without getting into the detail, the recommendations set out clear guidelines. So 36 years ago Cleveland ruled out the scenario outlined.

It should have ruled out what happened in the Orkney case too, but it didn't.

Yes that's why it was confusing welbeck, it was a therapist not a teacher. If it had been a teacher that was 'counselling' that school would have failed its Ofsted for failing safeguarding procedures.

Actually from that report I dont even know if it was the therapist?

Though let’s face it, there’s been some more than dubious “advice” in the past from members of Gransnet, in education, saying how they would talk to children about safeguarding or personal matters.

Not everyone involved with children sticks to the guidelines. With good intentions and a belief that they have a special rapport or understanding, they stray into territory that they shouldn’t.

It does happen☹️

Yes but it would need to be a multi agency failing because of safeguarding procedures. The police in particular are strongly criticised from what I can see in this case.

And the CPS.

A total failing. I wonder if there was further involvement by agencies and whether the teacher still has a massive debt.

Im always surprised that someone with wealth in public life who is accused and found not guilty does not pursue their accuser through the courts for vengence and bankrupt them. I would.

biglouis

Im always surprised that someone with wealth in public life who is accused and found not guilty does not pursue their accuser through the courts for vengence and bankrupt them. I would.

Reading the Daily Mail report, if it is accurate that the girls parents put pressure on the police, it is they that should have paid the legal fees of the teacher.

"HHJ Edmunds QC [......] invited the Crown Prosecution Service to provide a detailed account of the prosecution decision-making process. The CPS declined to provide any such explanation and, as a result, judge Edmunds was not prepared to accept their unsupported assertion that the test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors was satisfied and pronounced himself at a loss to understand how a reasonable prosecutor could conclude that the evidence was sufficient to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. Costs were awarded to Harris on the basis that the decision to prosecute represented an improper act or omission which would not have occurred had the CPS conducted the case properly."

www.lawgazette.co.uk/practice-points/crown-prosecution-service-true-cost-of-a-poor-charging-decision/5060835.article

My underlining.
I'm guessing that, in legal speak, that's a pretty fierce criticism of the CPS.

To refer back to the thread title, there's nothing Mr Harris could have done to avoid that accusation and it does show how such a thing can come completely out of the blue .

He appeared to have done all that he could to avoid an accusation ever being made FarNorth and it's pretty obvious from your post @ 16.11 that the case should never have made it to court.

So going back the the OP, really even if her husband is ultra cautious and has nothing to do with the neighbour, he can still be accused.

Pretty grim isn’t it ☹️

Yes it is pretty grim Lathyrus. Our DS who now teaches in Aus. has always been extremely cautious and ensures he's never alone in a room with a student of either sex unless the door is wide open and there's a clear view of the class room through the windows.

A couple of years ago he was accused by a male student of assault. Thankfully and unknown to the student the entire thing was on CCTV as it happened in a corridor. The student tried to grab him by the throat and he forcibly pushed him away to defend himself.

This discussion helps to expand understanding on the complexity of investigating allegations. It’s rarely if ever straightforward, and

Our male community nurses have a dark sense if humour but talk about 'allegators'- I'd people who make or might make allegations against them. In their job they worked with some pretty disturbed and mentally unwell women who could potentially make life very difficult for themselves.

ie not I'd. My phone thinks it knows better than me what I want to type!

I'd think small body cams could be useful in such situations.
I guess they'd have to be unable to record sound but would give video evidence.

Aveline

Our male community nurses have a dark sense if humour but talk about 'allegators'- I'd people who make or might make allegations against them. In their job they worked with some pretty disturbed and mentally unwell women who could potentially make life very difficult for themselves.

Hmm, that works two ways, as in the past male carers have take advantage of vulnerable women on a now well recognised very substantial scale.

I think you'll find in institutional situations men never ever work alone in these situations with women in a room.

.....and neither do female Mental Health nurses work alone with men for obvious reasons.

Yes I remember the horrific case of the woman in a coma who was pregnant as had been raped by more than one male carer.

Wyllow I'm well aware of that regarding male nurses. Both male and female community nurses frequently work alone. Staff numbers just don't allow for doubling up on visits.

but people who need personal care or other support/help often have to accept care-workers of the opposite sex, which is not ideal, esp isolated in their own homes.

Aveline

Wyllow I'm well aware of that regarding male nurses. Both male and female community nurses frequently work alone. Staff numbers just don't allow for doubling up on visits.

I know, I have one. I've also until recently been a governor on the MH trust. However, risk assessments are made depending on certain patients in choice male/female and home visits.

They only double up when safety or certain assessments occur. There is the option of meetings taking place at a comment centre but thats been made more difficult by shutting down many local centres.

However, my remarks above were more thinking of the most disturbed in acute settings.