False accusations and damaging accusations against my son

[F20283]

Hi,

My son is 14 years old and a girl at his school has false and highly embarrassing accusations that he’ has been sending extreme sexual photos of himself to a boy from another school.

He had a minor disagreement with the girl and she invented the story, no doubt to exact revenge.

Their school got to hear about this and spoke to them separately. My son protested his innocence and the girl can’t produce any evidence to corroborate her story and has has made claims that are demonstrably untrue.

She persists in her accusation with the school and has told many other pupils about it, both face to face and by social media.

My son is extremely embarrassed and is now the subject of homophobic bullying.

My wife and I have attempted to engage with his school on the matter but have been singularly unimpressed with their attitude. Safeguarding and confidentiality seem to crop up frequently in discussions and we have approached senior management within the school but we aren’t getting any traction.

My question is if we can’t get the school to take action, what further steps could we take, even theoretically, as parents to prevent the girl from making further allegations? E.g. court/police

I would add at this stage resolving matters through the school is our favoured option, but it would be helpful for other avenues to be sketched out.

Thank you.

[echat11]

Hi F20283

You could try to arrange a meeting between yourselves, the girls parents and the school. See if that helps resolve the situation.

You could try to obtain an injunction against the girl, but that might not be a cost effect way to deal with the matter.

The school really should have a 'charter' for this kind of behaviour and consequences to match.

You could lodge a formal complaint to school governors.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/fa...chool-problems

[F20283]

Thank you very much for the reply.

I would like to meet the girl’s parents, however they (so far) have refused to meet.

Since social media and mobile phones have been involved,I wonder if there’s a Malicious Communications angle?

What I’m trying to find is levers I can use to persuade the school to suggest to the girl that she drops her allegation.

They seem to be treating her as a victim, even thought the allegation doesn’t involve her and she’s offered no explanation how she came to know about what she’s alleging.

Is it correct that for example someone uses social media to make an allegation about someone’s conduct, in a libel case, it’s for the alleger to prove what they’re saying is correct?

[echat11]

a) I would like to meet the girl’s parents, however they (so far) have refused to meet.

You need to keep trying.

b) Since social media and mobile phones have been involved,I wonder if there’s a Malicious Communications angle?

https://www.internetmatters.org/conn...-the-law-says/

c) What I’m trying to find is levers I can use to persuade the school to suggest to the girl that she drops her allegation.

https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline...hoolobligation

There are also other organisations that could help.

d) They seem to be treating her as a victim, even thought the allegation doesn’t involve her and she’s offered no explanation how she came to know about what she’s alleging.

That is often the case, it makes it worse. It sounds like it's been made up, she probably isn't aware of what 'hurt' her actions is causing.

e) Is it correct that for example someone uses social media to make an allegation about someone’s conduct, in a libel case, it’s for the alleger to prove what they’re saying is correct?

Posting link for info only - https://www.carter-ruck.com/expertis...famation-faqs/