Well

[lilsecret]

Innocent until proven guilty I guess . . . but sickening if true.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090429/tuk-polic eman-on-child-grooming-charge-6323e80.html

[jake-the-peg]

Hmm

Possibly the devil's in the detail here

You read "child grooming" and then further down you read this is a 15 year old.

I think you need to know a bit more about the people involved before leaping to judgement here.

For example whether the girl has made a complaint or whether it's the familly and whether he knew she was 15 etc. etc.

Shows how careful the Police have to be though

[wasp]

If Innocent until proven guilty shouldn't the policeman's name be withheld untill such time ?

[ummmm]

Yes it should wasp.

[jake-the-peg]

This is a recurring topic on here about whether the accused in sex related cases should be granted anonimity along with the alleged victim.

Most people seem to think they should.

[Ankou]

Trouble is though, when you hear of a copper especially one who works with children, is involved in such a claim, people would be demanding to know what their name is and demanding that they be suspended. regardless of guilt.

look at that "minor royal" who was the target of a sex act blackmail a coupla yeras back. nobody gave a toss about the blackmailers, they just wanted to know who the minor royal was and what they'd done onthe tape.

[wasp]

And the relevant word here Ankou is claim. How many spurious accusations are leveled against the police by
puplicity seekers and the like then withdrawn or found to have no substance ! Why should possibly innocent members of the public and the police force be " Hung out to dry " so that sensation hounds can get their jollies from the newspapers.

[Ankou]

i know wasp, i was talking about the great unwashed (not me of course!!)

[paraffin]

jake:

My thoughts exactly - many people get charged with offences and a large proportion are never ultimately convicted, i.e found not guilty. It doesn't, however, stop the "no smoke without fire" brigade pontificating their innuendo etc, especially given the fact that the innocent person's name is by that time in the public domain. Would any of the detractors care for that to happen to them? I think not.

And isn't it also refreshing to see that the Police have taken prompt and appropriate action against "one of their own" which, according to certain contributors to AB, would never be seen to happen. They would rather have us believe that the Police "look after their own" and sweep such matters under the carpet.

This man, although having been arrested, has still not been convicted of anything and until and if he is, he should be regarded as innocent and his identity should not have been revealed unless the matter comes to Court.