Innocent until proven guilty?

Taking sexual advantage of a vulnerable position, especially a child, is a vile thing to do, and those who can be proven in court to have acted in that way should be punished.

But false or mistaken accusations of that kind of conduct can also wreck the lives of innocent people.

We have already had the situation where an elderly and totally innocent man who had served his country with distinction had the last few months of his life ruined because the BBC broadcast an inadequately-checked story.

The greatest care needs to be taken to balance the needs of cracking down on genuine abuse while respecting the privacy of victims and accused and, in everyone's interests, making sure that there is a fiar trial.

Tipping off journalists to be there with their cameras when there is to be a raid on the property of someone who has not yet been charged or interviewed is not a good idea. This practice must stop

Trial by media is not the best way to establish guilt or innocence

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