False rape allegations

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/25/4030

Version Date: 29/12/2025

The Performance Analysis Department has provided the following information:

To obtain the below information, the Performance Analysis Department undertook searches on the Niche Crime Universe for occurrences with the Home Office code 079/01 and a female suspect linked. The results were then reviewed to determine if the perversion of justice stemmed from a false allegation of rape.

Please note, Dorset Police do not hold prosecution or court data. His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, however, may hold this data and they can be contacted here: HM Courts & Tribunals Service - GOV.UK

Please provide the following information for each of the past ten calendar years (2016–2025 inclusive, or the most recent years for which data is held):

1.The number of women investigated by your force for making a false allegation of rape, where the suspected offence was perverting the course of justice (or wasting police time).

 2. The number of women charged with perverting the course of justice (or wasting police time, if relevant) in relation to allegedly false rape allegations.

 * Outcome 1A: Alternate offence charged

3. The number of resulting prosecutions for these offences.

4. For each prosecution, please provide the outcome (guilty, not guilty, charges dropped/no further action)

5. For each conviction, please provide:
o The sentence imposed (e.g. custodial, suspended, community order)
o The length of any custodial sentence.
If possible, please provide this data in an annual breakdown.

Information not held for Questions 3 – 5; His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, however, may hold this data and they can be contacted here: HM Courts & Tribunals Service - GOV.UK