International Falsely Accused Day
News & Updates
Join us in London on Tuesday 9th September 2025 outside the Royal Courts of Justice 2pm - 4pm to highlight the devastating impact from false allegations from fraud to workplace misconduct causing financial loss, reputational damage and emotional trauma
Children may experience anxiety, fear and confusion when a parent is falsely accused. The stress can contribute to long-term mental health issues like depression, particularly when a parent is imprisoned
9th September 2025 Falsely Accused Day is intended to raise awareness of just how easy it is to fall victim to a false accusation
In recent years, great efforts have rightly been made to encourage victims of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence to report allegations to the police. The "believe the victim" mantra (an idea advocated by Sir Keir Starmer as Director of Public Prosecutions) - was designed to give victims of sexual assault the confidence to come forward and seek justice.
However, there is now growing concern that this shift towards an increasingly victim-centred criminal justice system is placing "Due Process" under threat. This is the fundamental principle that ensures fair treatment under the law. It includes the right to a Fair Trial, the Presumption of Innocence Until Proven Guilty (enshrined in the Magna Carta) and the right to confront one's accuser.
With the erosion of trust in the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), miscarriages of justice are inevitable. These allegations vary in nature and scope and may relate to rape; theft; fraud (often in the workplace or family conflicts); murder and domestic abuse (e.g to gain custody of children in a divorce case).
FALSE ALLEGATIONS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE
If you or a member of your family or a friend have been falsely accused,
Falsely Accused Day offers you the chance to have your voice heard. Please join us in London outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday 9th September from 2pm - 4pm
7 YEARS - ZERO EVIDENCE
and a
LIFETIME OF IMPACT
by The Secret Defendant
"For seven relentless years, I was dragged through the UK legal system - not as the one who caused harm, but as the one accused.
I was the defendant in a case built on lies, misrepresentation, and a level of systemic failure that bordered on corruption. I was fighting not just for my name, but for my life - and the system did everything it could to break me before it admitted the truth.
From the moment I was arrested in a dawn raid & wrongly placed on RUI (Released Under Investigation), I lived in a suspended state - no charges, no closure, no clarity. Just endless waiting. Years of my life lost in limbo, unable to plan, progress, or properly live. And when the case finally reached court, it became a different kind of battle - a painfully slow, grinding war of attrition where justice seemed like an afterthought and incompetence was the norm.
The journey through the court system was relentless. To prove my innocence, I worked side by side with my legal team - for hours, on evenings after work, weekends, whenever it took. I read every word of every file, cross-referenced every statement, checked every detail. Nothing was too small. Everything mattered. Because I knew what was at stake: me. I was at stake.
The weight of that responsibility was enormous. While others treated it like paperwork, I was fighting for the truth of my life. My name. My story. My right to exist without the stain of a lie someone else had created.
All the while, the system continued to protect itself.
Clear serious misconduct ignored. Processes manipulated. At times it felt like the people tasked with uncovering the truth were more invested in avoiding embarrassment than in achieving justice. I wasn’t just fighting false allegations - I was fighting a culture of cover-ups. I felt like I was silently screaming & drowning - no one could hear me - until I joined Twitter/X.
The impact on my life is beyond measure. No words can articulate the immensity of the impact. My health, my career, my relationships - they all suffered. The emotional & mental health toll profound. And yet, I kept going. Because I had no choice. Because I was incensed. Because I knew the truth - and I absolutely refused to let them bury it.
Eventually, 7 years later, I was vindicated. I also received a formal apology from the CPS - in which every element of my formal complaint was upheld. I won - but not because the system delivered justice, but because I forced it to.
Now, I carry no shame. I carry strength. I carry a story that I hope speaks to others still trapped in the same system.
Truth isn’t optional. Nor is justice.
Truth matters - Justice matters
Falsely Accused Network
Support, Legal Help and Community for the Falsely Accused
Falsely Accused Network exists to support anyone in England and Wales who has been falsely accused of domestic abuse.
Whether you’ve been arrested, served with a non-molestation order, or dragged through the family or criminal courts on false claims, we are here for you.
Our mission is simple: make sure you’re not alone, get you the right legal support, and provide a secure space to be heard and understood.
What We Do:
1. Legal Referrals
We connect you with trusted, experienced solicitors and McKenzie Friends who specialise in false allegation cases. Whether you're facing family court proceedings, defending against a criminal charge, or both, we refer you to professionals who understand the stakes and know how to fight your corner.
2. Mental Health Support
False allegations can destroy your mental health. Many people we speak to are depressed, anxious or even suicidal. We take that seriously. We’re not therapists, but we can connect you with qualified counsellors and coaches who work specifically with men and women who’ve been falsely accused.
3. Peer Support Group
We run a secure and structured online support group for people going through this nightmare. It’s a private space, not open to the public, with clear rules and moderation. Members share experiences, legal tips, and emotional support. It's not therapy, but it's powerful.
4. Helpline
You can call us directly. We listen, we believe you, and we guide you. Whether you’re in crisis or just need to talk through your next steps, we’re here. You’ll never get a script or a call handler who doesn’t understand – we’ve lived it.
5. Public Awareness and Advocacy
We’re raising awareness about false allegations and the damage they cause.
We’re pushing for change in the legal system, supporting research, and building an alliance of professionals who care.
We host events, produce media content and give the falsely accused a voice.
Why People Trust Us
We only refer to people we trust and have vetted. We don’t take shortcuts or give false hope. We’re independent – not tied to any political or religious agenda. We’re survivors ourselves – we know how it feels.
Get in Touch📞 Call us: 0204 538 8788
🌐 Visit: www.falselyaccusednetwork.co.uk📧
Email: info@falselyaccusednetwork.co.uk
If you’ve been falsely accused of domestic abuse, don’t sit in silence. Don’t wait for it to get worse. Contact us today. We’ll help you take the first step towards clearing your name and rebuilding your life.
POST OFFICE scandal choir Hear Our Voice show off "GIGANTIC" vocals - Britains Got Talent 2025 - The Final
OUR STORY
Post Office victims have a voice - and talent! Victims of the "Horizon" Post Office scandal have turned to music to help get their message across."Hear Our Voice" - which is made up of 39 people all affected by the scandal - even made it to the finals of the popular ITV show Britain's Got Talent in June this year. The choir's performance was at the most recent appearance on Britain's Got Talent, "Hear Our Voice" received a standing ovation from the audience, David Walker, the Bishop of Manchester, referred to the choir's appearance on the show as an opportunity to broadcast the group's "continuing fight for justice" and "rebuild shattered confidence. He was speaking on Radio 4's Thought for the Day where he also mentioned the Arena terrorist attack in Manchester and the hazards faced by soldiers deployed to Afghanistan in the same breath as the Post Office victims.
Members of the group only performed together for the first time when they appeared on an earlier episode of Britain's Got Talent. Their previous practice sessions had been via Zoom calls, as members of the choir come from all over the country. The choir is led by Mark Wildblood.
Their charity single will help colleagues and their children with many still seeking compensation.
The Horizon scandal is far from over, with former Post Office staff still trying to settle compensation claims. According to the BBC, more than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted for theft and false accounting due to errors in the Post Office's fault computer system. Between 1999 and 2015, the Post Office took 700 cases to court with other authorities including the Crown Prosecution Service prosecuting a further 283 people.
The BBC goes on to report that many sub-postmasters were imprisoned and financially ruined, but over the subsequent years, the systemic problems with the IT system and a cover-up by the Post Office came to light.
More recently, even as one of the victims was receiving an OBE from Buckingham Palace, she decried the scandal which she said had left 138 former sub-postmasters still fighting for compensation.
Jo Hamilton accepted a settlement after she was falsely prosecuted in 2006 for an alleged shortfall of £36,000. Following her recent OBE award, she described to the BBC the current situation of many others are "wicked".
Concerns over Dame Vera Baird's CCRC appointment
by Anna Doherty
BRIAN BUCKLE CLEARED OF HISTORICAL SEX CHARGES
A jury at Swansea Crown Court found Brian Buckle Not Guilty of the offences after the original convictions were quashed and a retrial was ordered.
A Pembrokeshire man has been acquitted of historical sex offences against a child after a retrial.
Brian Buckle, 51 of Fishguard had been jailed in 2017 at Swansea Crown Court on 12 charges of indecent assault, three of indecency and one of attempted rape, but he was acquitted at the same court after the convictions were quashed.
The retrial was ordered by the Court Appeal.
He had been accused of carrying out the offences in the 1990's.
Following a two-week retrial, the jury returned a Not Guilty verdict on all 16 charges
SUING THE POST OFFICE AND FUJITSU TO CLEAR MY NAME - LEE CASTLETON
A former sub-postmaster and a central figure in the Horizon scandal is the first individual to sue both the Post Office and Fujitsu for their role in proceedings brought against him.
Lee Castleton, who ran a branch in Bridlington, was subject to a High Court judgment in 2007 by the Post Office, which claimed that he had lost more than £25,000. The Post Office pursued him for this money and incurred more than £300,000 costs, leaving Castleton, a litigant in person, bankrupt and homeless.
The missing funds were in fact due to ‘balancing errors’ and bugs in the Horizon system. Castleton has instructed London firm Simons Muirhead Burton to pursue the Post Office and Fujitsu over the information they disclosed.
In his legal action, Castleton will say that the Post Office (conspiring with others) obtained its judgment against him by fraud by withholding evidence of the unreliability of the Horizon system.
It had a devastating long-term impact on his own and his family’s health.‘Mr Castleton has issued proceedings to seek public vindication by the judgment of the court that a great injustice and wrong was intentionally done to him and to his family by the Post Office and others.
That is a public vindication that only the court can give.’
His solicitor Simon Goldberg said: ‘The 2007 judgment destroyed his business, his livelihood, and his reputation in his community, and it resulted in his bankruptcy.
ANDY MALKINSON WAS THE SCAPEGOAT - NOT Helen Pitcher (as she claims!)
Helen Pitcher told the Times she had been "made a scapegoat"
Malkinson 'vindicated' after review body chair quits
A man who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit has said he feels "vindicated" by the resignation of the chair of the miscarriages of justice review body. Helen Pitcher had been heavily criticised for the failings of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in relation to Andy Malkinson's case. Ms Pitcher told the Times she had been made a scapegoat but Mr Malkinson said she had been "made accountable".
"She's been complaining that she's been made a scapegoat but I was made a scapegoat, she has been made accountable and I feel vindicated," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Last summer, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood began the formal process of sending a recommendation to the King that Ms Pitcher should go after personally concluding that she was not fit to head the CCRC.
That decision came after a damning independent report , into how the CCRC had mishandled Mr Malkinson's pleas for help, and how the chair herself had presented its work on his case.While he was in jail, the CCRC twice rejected Mr Malkinson's submissions that he was innocent. The second of those rejections came after Ms Pitcher had become chair in 2018.
"Patently untrue". He was only cleared in 2023 after exhaustive work by his own legal team tracked down the long-available DNA evidence that showed another man must have committed the rape in 2003.
The first of two independent reviews - commissioned by the CCRC itself - found that the body had failed to complete basic work that could have cast doubt on Mr Malkinson's conviction.
It said Mrs Pitcher's statements as chair had not properly reflected these failings. Ms Pitcher told the Times that she was not in charge the first time Mr Malkinson's appeal was rejected and that he was released "on her watch" armed with new DNA evidence that the CCRC uncovered Mr Malkinson was released.
Mr Malkinson told the Today programme this was not true and that APPEAL, a charity and law firm that challenges wrongful convictions, was the one that uncovered the DNA evidence.
"APPEAL did all the work that Ms Pitcher has claimed credit for," he said."This has made people quite angry and I feel quite emotional about it. "It's patently untrue that CCRC did all the work to set me free - it was APPEAL that set me free."