The Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde, is concerned at the increase in the number of false or malicious complaints being laid with the Police and brought before the courts.

Mr Pryde said: “The Police take sexual assault complaints seriously and when people make false complaints for some ulterior motive the integrity of the criminal justice system is adversely affected.

“Not only are considerable resources wasted but innocent people’s lives are disrupted and great potential harm can result not only for the falsely accused person but for victims of crime in having their complaints taken seriously.”

In the past two months the ODPP has terminated court proceedings against 8 persons charged with rape when it was discovered that the complainants in each case had provided false information to the Police.

Currently, 7 persons are being prosecuted in the courts for a range of offences including giving false information to a public servant and attempting to pervert the course of justice.