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| Most teachers 'face false claims' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Most school heads and teachers have faced false allegations from pupils or parents, a head teachers' union says. | |
| The problem is under-played and incidents are less unusual than some claim, according to the National Association of Head Teachers. | The problem is under-played and incidents are less unusual than some claim, according to the National Association of Head Teachers. |
| The union says false claims can have devastating results. It accuses the government of taking minimal action. | The union says false claims can have devastating results. It accuses the government of taking minimal action. |
| The government says there is anonymity while claims are checked but pupils must be protected as well as teachers. | The government says there is anonymity while claims are checked but pupils must be protected as well as teachers. |
| A report to be presented at the annual conference of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) this weekend will say evidence suggests that "most teachers and heads have faced false allegations at some point in their careers". | A report to be presented at the annual conference of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) this weekend will say evidence suggests that "most teachers and heads have faced false allegations at some point in their careers". |
| "The official view that these events are extremely rare is not borne out by the available evidence. | "The official view that these events are extremely rare is not borne out by the available evidence. |
| "The allegations are often made public, with devastating consequences for the individuals and their families." | "The allegations are often made public, with devastating consequences for the individuals and their families." |
| Anonymity | Anonymity |
| The report details cases where heads or teachers have been falsely accused of striking pupils or parents. | The report details cases where heads or teachers have been falsely accused of striking pupils or parents. |
| The union complains the names of the accused get into the media, while the alleged victim is often anonymous. | The union complains the names of the accused get into the media, while the alleged victim is often anonymous. |
| Government guidelines - revised in 2005 - say teachers in England accused of abusing children should not automatically be suspended. | Government guidelines - revised in 2005 - say teachers in England accused of abusing children should not automatically be suspended. |
| Their cases must be dealt with speedily and accused staff should enjoy anonymity while investigations continued. | Their cases must be dealt with speedily and accused staff should enjoy anonymity while investigations continued. |
| We have clear evidence that lives are being damaged and careers ruined by a failure by the law to adequately protect people who are innocent Mick Brookes, NAHT | We have clear evidence that lives are being damaged and careers ruined by a failure by the law to adequately protect people who are innocent Mick Brookes, NAHT |
| But teachers and head teachers want the right to anonymity enshrined in the law because the claims are often leaked to the media. | But teachers and head teachers want the right to anonymity enshrined in the law because the claims are often leaked to the media. |
| Union general secretary Mick Brookes says in the report: "This inversion of justice has continued for long enough. | Union general secretary Mick Brookes says in the report: "This inversion of justice has continued for long enough. |
| "We have clear evidence that lives are being damaged and careers ruined by a failure by the law to adequately protect people who are innocent of accusations levelled against them." | "We have clear evidence that lives are being damaged and careers ruined by a failure by the law to adequately protect people who are innocent of accusations levelled against them." |
| The government rejects the claim that it is not doing enough to protect teachers and head teachers from malicious accusations - and says children have to be protected too. | The government rejects the claim that it is not doing enough to protect teachers and head teachers from malicious accusations - and says children have to be protected too. |
| A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "The department is keenly aware of the devastating effect that false or unfounded allegations can have on a person's health, family, and career, and the effect publicity also have. | A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "The department is keenly aware of the devastating effect that false or unfounded allegations can have on a person's health, family, and career, and the effect publicity also have. |
| "Regrettably, some allegations of abuse are true, however, and being abused by a person in a position of trust and authority, such as a teacher, can have similar devastating effects on a child. | "Regrettably, some allegations of abuse are true, however, and being abused by a person in a position of trust and authority, such as a teacher, can have similar devastating effects on a child. |
| "It must be remembered that the number of allegations made each year is very small as a proportion of the children and staff in our schools." | "It must be remembered that the number of allegations made each year is very small as a proportion of the children and staff in our schools." |