False accusation

A false accusation is a claim or allegation of wrongdoing that is untrue or unsubstantiated. False accusations are also known as groundless accusations, unfounded accusations, false allegations, false claims or unsubstantiated allegations. They can occur in everyday life, in quasi-judicial proceedings, and in judicial proceedings.

Making a false accusation is a crime in many jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, if a person acts in a way that intends or perverts the course of justice, for example by making false accusations to the Metropolitan Police, they are guilty of a criminal offence. This includes making crime reports that contain false allegations, that causes someone to be arrested or even fall under suspicion. Sometimes, the people who are actually guilty of an offence may do this to divert attention away from their own crimes. In certain circumstances, the person wrongly accused of a crime is the victim of a crime which should be investigated.

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