Written Question·Home Office·UIN 88433

Criminal Investigation

Tabled: 5 November 2025

Answered: 18 November 2025

Question

Lisa Smart

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to update guidance for police forces on the investigation of (a) false and (b) malicious allegations as potential criminal offences.

Answer

Sarah Jones

Section 5 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 sets out that wasting police time is a criminal offence, which includes by knowingly making a false report.Furthermore, the Common Law offence of perverting the course of justice could also be considered by police an...

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