Cliff Richard has started a petition re anonymity of sex-related accusations until charge

[traceyracer]

Note he isn't looking for "anonymous until convicted", only until/if charged. Interested on what you think of this?
www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/pressure-group-backed-by-cliff-richard-to-launch-petition-for-anonymity-reform/ar-AADGfzZ
The petition is here:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/247912

I can't say what I think of Cliff without getting banned (probably).

Why? Nothing came out of the allegations against him, and he wasn't even arrested or charged. Regardless I did agree the BBC's invasion of his privacy back then was uncalled for.

I can't say what I think of Cliff without getting banned (probably) Why? Despite the very best attempts of many nothing untoward has been found. Post Savile etc there have been many attempts to expose Cliff Richards for sexual misdemenours. Lots of them! Unless I have missed a headline, a court case, the most that has been unearthed is he went to a specific house to meet gay men, at a time when being gay was illegal, and that he kept quiet about his sexuality for almost as long as he did about his botox.

I agree with him, and Paul Gambaccini by the way. Their point that accusers have lifetime anonymity yet the accused are an instant media circus is well made.

I can't say what I think of Cliff without getting banned (probably)
Is exactly the reason why he's started the petition isn't it?

I absolutely agree with anonymity - false accusations ruin lives, especially in the public eye.

No comment on whether Cliff is guilty or innocent of anything by the way, but I believe everyone should be treated the same and unless they are being charged with an offence, their names should be kept quiet.

Innocent until proven guilty should apply. I know that doesn't exactly go with believing victims so surely the safest way is anonymity for all involved to begin with.

What was wrong about the cliff Richard case was how the media reported on it not the right of the police to name suspects before they are charged.

IMO anonymity until at least charged does in no way mean victims are less likely to be believed, and I see no reason why this would prevent victims from coming forward.

What does IMO stop victims coming forward are cases like these:
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/laura-hood-taxi-driver-rape-false-accusation-haroon-yousaf-a8969426.html

Anonymity before charge seems utterly reasonable.

I think anonymity before charge is reasonable.

False accusations aren’t what stop victims coming forward. I find it gross to blame other women when it’s the handling of reports that’s the issue.

I agree names should not be released until they are charged. However, if the police suspect they’re a serial offender then I get why they do

I think it’s reasonable. A media article based on a pack of lies can follow an individual for the rest of their lives. In Cliff’s case he’s rich and has access to a legal team so the damage to him was minimal, but a false rape accusation (and then a false rape article on the Daily Mail led by the lying accuser) did ruin the life of several young men who now can’t get jobs. I seem to remember an Oxbridge graduate who needed to bring another article to the DM to ‘set the story straight’ in any hope of getting a job.

Always womens fault, isn't it trace?

I never said it was "woman's fault".

Are you suggesting deliberate false rape allegations are blameless?

I agree with him, and in fact think no one male or female should be incentivised until charged for any crime.

Identified not incentivised. Damn predictive text

Are you suggesting deliberate false rape allegations are blameless?

They are not why men rape.

They are not why women don’t come forward.

They are not why women aren’t believed- false accusations are rare.

Stop blaming other women for the fact society prioritises men’s reputations.

Women affected by rape, are often unable to function at full capacity ie work as well.

I don't think he's being unreasonable..

Are you suggesting deliberate false rape allegations are blameless?

I'm saying that you are wrong to say that false allegations stops victims coming forward.

This is quite an interesting article

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-men-are-more-likely-to-be-raped-than-be-falsely-accused-of-rape&ved=2ahUKEwiM_K-3xZjjAhVSSBUIHZO_DOQQFjAAegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw23wGdopyRnN6pPvKLsH7zO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-men-are-more-likely-to-be-raped-than-be-falsely-accused-of-rape&ved=2ahUKEwiM_K-3xZjjAhVSSBUIHZO_DOQQFjAAegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw23wGdopyRnN6pPvKLsH7zO

It states that:
"The latest data on this is from a 17-month period in 2011 and 2012, when the CPS prosecuted 35 people for making false allegations of rape."

I'm going out on a limb and saying that the criminally low conviction rates stop more victims coming forward and not the very few false allegations.

I think that conflating several different issues is arguing in bad faith.

I think that the media need tighter controls on their behaviour.

The fact that complainants are granted lifelong anonymity is irrelevant to the question of whether or not men should be named before they have been charged.

the criminally low conviction rates stop more victims coming forward and not the very few false allegations.

Speaking from experience, it’s the humiliation, the rape kit, the shame, the judgement, the pain, the fear... it is NOT false accusations.

The fact that complainants are granted lifelong anonymity is irrelevant to the question of whether or not men should be named before they have been charged.

Yes it is. It’s also gross.

signed

The fact that complainants are granted lifelong anonymity is irrelevant to the question of whether or not men should be named before they have been charged. Really?

Had they asked for lifeling anonymity after being charged, prior to court hearing, I might have agreed with you. But the disparity and the opportunity for so much media attention mean a change is needed prior to charges.