GP Taylor: Accused teachers deserve more protection from the law

IT was chilling hearing Bill Stuart, a local teacher, tell me of his arrest and charge for assault on a pupil at his school. His voice was emotional as he told me he was innocent.

Surprisingly, his concern was not for himself but for the welfare of the accuser and what it would do to them. From that moment on, his life changed. No longer could Bill walk down the street, the local newspaper publishing his picture on the front page made sure of that.

He and his family spent the summer hiding out in a caravan. The pressure on him was intense, as even though he was innocent he feared what might happen to him. In that time, a good man was nearly destroyed and if he had been of lesser character a life could have ended.

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We in Britain often say the phrase, “innocent until proven guilty”. In this day of instant media, I wish it were true.

The fact is that people who are accused of a crime are often put on trial in newspapers, TV and social media sites. Facts are distorted and gossip is rife. The coffee shop lawyers often convict the accused long before the trial goes to court. Reputations are tarnished, careers ruined and families are destroyed.

I now firmly believe that this is the time for a change in the law. If terrorists and killers can have there names withheld from the press, then teachers and others in public life should have that same benefit.

It should be the right of every person to be protected in law until they are convicted. Then it is only proper for their names to enter into the public domain and for the readers of salacious periodicals to gloat at their downfall.

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Those found not guilty should be allowed to have their details kept secret. All of their DNA, fingerprints and other records should be immediately deleted. These should not languish on some database that can be accessed by potential employers. It should not be held against them in the future and not appear on a CRB check.

Actors, politicians and footballers shamelessly have their affairs and philandering hidden from the public by super injunctions, and yet a teacher accused of assault cannot do so. As a former police officer, I know that it is very easy to make a complaint and be very hard to disprove. In the fear-filled environment of child protection, the police and CPS have to be seen to be doing their job. In the last 10 years, I have known three teachers accused of assault and all three were found to be not guilty.

However, there seems to be an assumption by the police and social services that any teacher accused is automatically guilty until proven innocent. That has to stop and attitudes have to change. It is the job of the police to present the evidence. That includes an in depth analysis of the person making the complaint. Motives have to be assessed and any maliciousness dealt with firmly.

Recent figures show that nine out of 10 complaints made by children against teachers are false. It is very important to protect children, but it is also important to protect those who have to work with them.

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In recent years, 2,100 teachers have been assaulted by pupils, 300 of those were so serious they had to be taken from school by ambulance.

These figures are just the tip of the iceberg as many schools discourage teachers from making complaints to police against pupils for fear they bring the school into disrepute and the school is seen as being violent.

It is only right that anyone causing any harm to a child should be punished to the full extent of the law. However, everyone regardless of innocence or guilt must be protected from publicity until the case against them is proven.

That is why the law has to change and why Michael Gove has to act now. Bill’s Amendment is quite simple. The identity of people accused of an offence should be confidential until they are convicted. Innocence has to be maintained until there is proof of guilt. This guilt can only be proved in a court of law.

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Teachers should not have the double jeopardy of being cleared by the court beyond reasonable doubt, and then being tried again by a disciplinary hearing where the burden of proof is on the balance of probabilities.

The campaign for Bill’s Amendment is in its early days, but more and more people are giving their support with each hour.

Teachers are at the heart of our community, often they work under great pressure, it is only right that the law protects their lives and reputations.

GP Taylor, from Scarborough, is an ordained Anglican priest, writer and broadcaster.

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