Teachers told 'don't work alone'

Teachers unions are concerned about false allegations

Teachers are being warned not to work alone with some children - because of fears that false abuse claims could be made against them in years to come.

The warning comes from an MP who leads a cross-party parliamentary group on abuse investigations, Claire Curtis-Thomas.

"People working with vulnerable young people are very open to false allegations later in life," she said.

"Claims can be made and there is no need for there to be a witness."

Mrs Curtis-Thomas cautions teachers and social workers not to be alone with disturbed or vulnerable children, such as those in care.

Next week she will speak at a conference about false allegations.

Campaigners - including former teachers who were wrongly accused of abuse - will call for people who are accused of sex abuse not to be named unless they are found guilty.

Anonymity

But teachers say it is not practical to avoid all one-on-one contact with pupils.

A spokeswoman for the National Union of Teachers said: "While we are grateful for the concern, there are cases where you can only talk to children alone.

"If they have a problem at home, for example, or if they are being bullied."

The other main teaching union, the NASUWT, argues it would be simpler just to grant anonymity to people accused of sex abuse.

Labour MP Claire Curtis-Thomas says some ex-pupils are driven by greed to make false claims, because they can claim compensation.

In her Merseyside constituency, a special school for children with behavioural problems was at the centre of allegations about sex abuse.

Investigations were launched into 90 members of staff, past and present, and 26 people were taken to court.

One of those who was convicted - but later cleared - was Mike Lawson, who spent nearly three years in jail before his conviction was quashed by the Appeal Court.

He says ex-pupils made up allegations against him and others to get compensation.

Another to face court proceedings as a result of the investigations was the former Southampton FC manager David Jones.

He was cleared of all charges when they came to court.