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The Peter Ellis web
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False rape claim case highlights significant
problem. The recent false rape hoax
highlights a problem that is unfortunately far too common, spokesperson for
peterellis.org.nz, Brian Robinson says. The crime of false allegation is
not rare. In the last decade there have been over 400 cases each year of
proven cases, the majority relating to false allegations of sex offences.
Most of these cases are not publicised. There are also many more cases
where false allegations occur but the perpetrator does not confess. In these
cases the victims suffer severely, and some are even wrongly convicted. Very
few victims are as fortunate as Clint Rickards was, to have a family
photograph of himself in a plaster cast that indicated the complainant was
lying. It is unfortunate that the media
sought comment about the latest hoax from people who have a history of
minimising the problem of false sex allegations. Their response was sadly
predictable. Dr Kim McGregor of Rape Crisis
claims that only two to six percent of rape allegations are made up. The only
thing made up are the statistics that she provides. Psychology lecturer Dr
Neville Robertson says that false complaints are extremely rare. He is
presumably basing his claim on the tiny proportion of false rape complaints
that are reported in the media. Victoria academic Dr Jan Jordan
provides an excuse for perpetrators by claiming - without justification -
that they may have been sexually abused. She could well study the more common
reasons why false complaints are made. Regardless of how common or
uncommon the problem of false allegations is, all allegations should be
treated seriously, and investigated impartially. Justice for real rape
victims is not enhanced by simply routinely believing the stories of those
making false allegations.
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