The Tightrope of Justice.

False Accusations of Harassment and Stalking Are Wasting Police Resources and Putting Real Victims at Risk, Warns Campaigner
Brighton, UK – In the wake of tragic cases like that of Shana Grice, campaigner and independent commentator Matthew Taylor is calling on Sussex Police to urgently reassess how it handles allegations of harassment and stalking—highlighting the growing damage being done by false and malicious reports.
“Harassment and stalking are very real and serious crimes,” said Taylor. “Shana Grice’s death is a heartbreaking example of what happens when police fail to protect genuine victims. But in trying to avoid another scandal, Sussex Police has overcorrected—now treating every accusation as fact, even when the evidence doesn’t hold up. This is a dangerous and costly mistake.”
Taylor’s comments point to a troubling pattern emerging within Sussex Police and other forces across the UK: the automatic pursuit of harassment and stalking complaints without thorough preliminary investigation. While this may appear to serve victims, it often leads to the criminalisation of innocent individuals, based on nothing more than hearsay or spite.
“False allegations not only destroy lives—they drain police time, flood the courts with baseless claims, and undermine the credibility of real victims who desperately need to be heard,” Taylor continued. “Sussex Police is chasing ghosts, while the real monsters are still out there.”
The campaign calls for the introduction of stronger safeguards in police protocol, including:
Proper evidence assessment before any action is taken.

Risk-balanced evaluations of both complainant and accused.

Penalties for those proven to make false or malicious reports.

Comprehensive officer training in recognising patterns of both real abuse and false allegation tactics.

Taylor urges media outlets and political leaders to reopen the discussion about how the justice system can balance the protection of victims with the rights of the falsely accused.
“Justice must walk a fine line,” Taylor concluded. “We owe it to victims like Shana Grice to take stalking seriously—but we also owe it to the falsely accused to ensure the truth still matters.”