False allegations

Q

Is it possible to prosecute someone for making false allegations about another person, leading to their arrest? Apparently it is common practice for a person that has assaulted someone to make counter allegations in order to try and avoid prosecution, or to encourage the initial complaint to be dropped. Is this true?

A

Further to previous answers the criminal offence of making false allegations is covered under the common law offence of perverting the course of public justice. The actual wording of the offence is ‘Where a person deliberately makes a false allegation about an offence in order to have a person arrested.’ This would amount to attempting to pervert the course of public justice. Consideration could also be given to an offence under section 5(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1967, which covers wasteful employment of the police, better known as wasting police time