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Steve Paston/PA Wire
UK News

Sir Cliff Richard to address MPs on false child abuse claims

by Aaron James

Sir Cliff, who faced a televised police raid on his home before he was informed that there was insufficient evidence to proceed, will address MPs and peers about his ordeals on Monday.

A ban on naming sex crime suspects unless they are charged could be in place by the end of the year - something backed by the head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.

Former police officer Brian Paddick is leading proposals for a change in the law after he saw broadcaster Paul Gambaccini (above, right) spend a year on bail accused of historical sex offences before the presenter was told he would face no action.

Mr Gambaccini is also addressing MPs on Monday.

Lord Paddick said: "Particularly in the wake of the Jimmy Savile revelations, most people are very well aware of the impact historical child abuse has had on the survivors of such offences, but the meeting is to give parliamentarians the opportunity to hear from those who have been affected by being falsely accused of such offences.

"No matter who they are - whether they are a local school teacher whose arrest makes it into the local newspaper, or whether it's somebody like Cliff Richard, who has never been arrested but the allegations against him were all over the BBC and the national media, clearly it can have a devastating effect both on the individual's reputation and potentially on their careers."

Sir Cliff was the subject of a long-running South Yorkshire Police investigation, which centred on accusations dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men.

A police raid on his Berkshire home was televised and he is suing the BBC and South Yorkshire Police over the live coverage of the swoop.

He was never arrested, and earlier this year prosecutors announced that no charges were to be brought as a result of the inquiry.

Last month a review confirmed that the decision was correct.

David Davies/PA Wire

Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon, the firm which represented victims including those of Rolf Harris and Max Clifford, said: "We have seen countless times how perpetrators isolate their victims, make them think no one will believe them and that it would be their word against the abuser's.

"It is only following publicity around an arrest, and realising there were others, that some victims have felt able to come forward.

"Many dangerous offenders are only behind bars now because more victims came forward once the offender had been named following arrest. This strengthened the case significantly and resulted in conviction."

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