Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with (a) charities, (b) lobby groups, (c) experts and (d) the police on the handling of false allegations of child abuse.

Government engagement with charities and experts on child sexual abuse is coordinated by the National Group on Sexual Violence against Children and Vulnerable People. The National Group, which is chaired by myself
and includes experts from the voluntary sector, has overseen a cultural shift in how allegations of abuse are handled. This is reflected in updated Crown Prosecution Service guidance which supports a culture focused on
the credibility of the allegation rather than the credibility of the victim; a shift which recognises how the vulnerability of potential victims and power of perpetrators needs to be addressed.

The College of Policing has issued authorised professional practice for police in relation to investigating child abuse and exploitation. The guidance also aims to move the focus of investigations away from testing the credibility of victims
onto the credibility of the allegation and ensuring victims are listened to by the police.

It is not always obvious to the police that when a complaint is made and then subsequently investigated by them, that the allegation in question may be false. Where an investigation identifies a false allegation, it may be
appropriate for the police to support a prosecution for attempting to pervert the course of justice. It is essential in all cases that all steps are taken to test the validity of statements, corroborate accounts and establish an accurate
picture.

The Government is clear that if child abuse takes place, it must be thoroughly and properly investigated, and those responsible are arrested and brought to justice.