The truth about false rape claims

    The idea that false rape allegations are a common occurrence is a “widely held misconception in broad swaths of society”, according to a 2010 study by researchers from the University of Massachusetts and Northeastern University.
A number of high-profile cases have helped reinforce this idea, including false accusations levelled against three Duke University students in 2006, as well as a fabricated story published by Rolling Stone in 2014 about an alleged gang rape at the University of Virginia.
    What does the research say? In one of the largest and most comprehensive studies ever conducted on the issue, the Home Office concluded that about 3% of rape cases in England and Wales probably involved false allegations.
    The researchers say that cases in which the victim is unable or unwilling to cooperate with police, makes inconsistent statements, or was heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident frequently get classified as false allegations, as do cases where evidence is lacking.
    Many people, including police officers, believe that “a large proportion of rape allegations are maliciously concocted for purposes of revenge or other motives”, the study found.
    What conclusion can we reach? The best available evidence contradicts the belief that false rape and sexual assault allegations are a common occurrence.
    Keir Starmer QC, the then director of public prosecutions, said false reports were “serious but rare”, and warned that a “misplaced belief” that these claims are commonplace can undermine efforts by police and prosecutors to investigate such crimes.