<< If cleared how does the previously named person ever really clear their name. Even if completely innocent there will be those who assume that they got off on a technicality or due to lack of evidence. Others will avoid them because of the smell of that particular type of scandal, innocent or not. >>

I can’t see that this is necessarily the case, R0bert.

I get the strong impression that the authorities really want to nab anyone who has done anything even remotely illegal as it concerns child pornography and the like, especially famous people.

So if they are cleared, it should mean complete vindication.

I think the opposite could well be true – if they are found guilty of anything, then they are likely to be completely shunned and condemned, regardless of what they actually did, which could have been very minor, all-considered.

Hi there LUDWIG...

You are spot on. It doesn't matter a fig, if an individual is cleared in a court of law. They need to be cleared absolutely in the court of public opinion !

As I've stated herein, now Harris has been ID'd as a 'person of interest', because of his fame...well you know very well what will happen ? The bloke is 'Branded' for life.

I do understand where you are coming from RObert, but it is a very fine line between the accused and the guilty, where possible child sexual abuse has occurred.

What if it is a primary school teacher accused of this crime?
Do we leave the teacher in the class until they are actually found guilty or not?
Do we risk the possibility that if the teacher IS that way inclined, that they mightn't reoffend in the interim?

I feel sorry for the few people that are falsely accused, but the children's protection must come first.

Suzie I think in the case of those who work closely with children (and without another adult present) that if there are credible allegations raised then there is probably a good case for changing that situation. Thats quite different to the naming and shaming approach of identifying them in the papers and on TV as a suspected paedophile.

Step back and imagine that you were falsely accused of deliberately mistreating patients at work, how would you like that handled?
Stood down without pay and your name and image in the media branded as an abuser of some sort?

Presumption of innocence is often a tricky issue. Getting the balance right between protecting against further harm if the accused is guilty and minimising the harm to innocent parties who are under suspicion.

R0bert

Very good article, thanks very much. I read Frank Furedi's very good and interesting piece, which was also published here in the Dutch press. And I recently saw the Danish movie 'The Hunt' here in Amsterdam, I don't think it has been shown in Australian cinemas yet. Chilling, utterly chilling and for me the most disturbing movie since 'Snowtown'. It shows what can happen to the life of someone who is sentenced by the community before they have had the time and the chance to find out if the allegations of child abuse are true (which they clearly were not). It shows how much everybody wants to show they are 'on the good side', how much it boosts our ego and self-esteem if we throw abuse, be it verbally, be it physically, at the alleged 'criminal'. The world is full of creeps, the world is also full of people who are sentenced due to wrong allegations. Can we please have some rational thinking and wait for more information before we start jumping to conclusions?

All true thoughts RObert and KeesB, but I guess if you are a 'celebrity' and are often in the media and the arts, then you are fair game for the press.

I think that the authorities, and indeed all those associated with that dreadful known sex predator Jimmy Saville, must feel great guilt now after all these years. All those young women and children who were molested by him and his cohorts must have felt powerless in that no one believed them at the time.

RObert, if I or any medical professional is even just mentioned as possibly involved in some sort of patient abuse, we are sent off the job faster than any other job I believe.

Certainly, if the press hears of anything like that in their area, they are quick to report it.
So I guess it can happen to anyone...

I don't know how else such a situation can be handled without at least temporarily standing them down though, do you?

And in the case of someone as famous as Rolf, who has access to hospitals, schools, theatres and any number of other public places in the course of his work, they may well have no choice but to make the allegations known publicly?