False accusations.... Any advice?

[david1701]

they can make it conditional to entry that you don't distribute images and seeing as its your job antagonism is unwise

Talk quietly to someone suitably important and you might find out who it is that dislikes you

 

[downfader]

Amateur Photographer magazine used to report on similar incidents and scenarios. One fella who wrote in to their letters page had not been informed that they didnt wish parents to take photos of the school play, parents complained about him taking a single picture so he took his child out of the play, LOL!

Even on private land there is no law controlling or prohibiting photography by members of the public. Aberal is correct- you cannot photograph MoD or major Government sites. Someone in charge of a property can ask for terms on entrance, whereby if you're actually on the site and they've made clear they dont want photography taking place they can ask you to leave.

I think you talking to your Head and your HR will be the right way to go.

In itself I think there is a hysteria around cameras and kids. A load of photographers had a rally, I think reported in The Telegraph, where they wore shirts saying "I am not a peadophile" or "I am not a terrorist" (as similar accusations get made now and again)

 

[funnymummy]

Thnak you all for your words & advise.
I know I have done nothing wrong, the school have listened to the complaint & have asked me if it true, the Head is willing to take my word it isn't. She has said that the school will now have to consider banning photos from being taken on Sports Day as well now, whcih annoys me - this person is ruining things for so mnay other folks, parents,grandparents, siblings that can't get to go watch these events & rely on photos taken by others that can. They really must ahve sad ife is this is what they do for fun!

 

[vernon]

Thnak you all for your words & advise.
I know I have done nothing wrong, the school have listened to the complaint & have asked me if it true, the Head is willing to take my word it isn't. She has said that the school will now have to consider banning photos from being taken on Sports Day as well now, whcih annoys me - this person is ruining things for so mnay other folks, parents,grandparents, siblings that can't get to go watch these events & rely on photos taken by others that can. They really must ahve sad ife is this is what they do for fun!

I'd ask the head what she is doing about the accuser. Some stern words ought to be delivered.

 

[Shaun]

Am I reading this right? The SAME person has complained about YOU whilst you've been at two DIFFERENT schools?

Sounds like a vendetta to me - you really should let the school know about it and explain that you are concerned for your job, and worried that this person's false accusations could have dire consequences for you and other people.

Ask if the school will arrange a meeting with the person (with you present too, of course) to directly address why they have made this false accusation!! Tell the school you want a local community police officer present too as you feel it is THAT serious!!! (I doubt there's any legal issue and the school may not agree to it, but it should let them know how serious you are taking this!!)

Good luck with sorting it out - and tell the school head to get some bloody evidence next time before putting you through the mill over it!!!

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[vernon]

Am I reading this right? The SAME person has complained about YOU whilst you've been at two DIFFERENT schools?

Sounds like a vendetta to me - you really should let the school know about it and explain that you are concerned for your job, and worried that this person's false accusations could have dire consequences for you and other people.

Ask if the school will arrange a meeting with the person (with you present too, of course) to directly address why they have made this false accusation!! Tell the school you want a local community police officer present too as you feel it is THAT serious!!! (I doubt there's any legal issue and the school may not agree to it, but it should let them know how serious you are taking this!!)

Good luck with sorting it out - and tell the school head to get some bloody evidence next time before putting you through the mill over it!!!

Cheers,
Shaun

It doesn't work like that in schools.

There's a degree of pussy footing and a delicate balancing act that head teachers have to maintain. Revealing the identity simply will not happen.

The head teacher is being a bit of a pratt.

She should have demanded evidence from the accuser instead of propagating tittle tattle.

I've been involved in a gross misconduct appeal.

It's startling what evidence is asked to be disregarded on account of the source being anonymous or unable to attended the meeting to provide evidence to support a verbal account of a surveillance operation.

The headteacher is toothless:
She can't stand up to the accuser and tell her where to go with unsubstantiated allegations.
She should'nt have shared the allegations with the OP without evidence.
She's kowtowing to public opinion no matter how paranoid it is.

Essentially she is covering her own ass.

 

[ufkacbln]

Oh gosh... You all replied while I was replying to the first reply LOL!!

So....
No my sons school has not made an official about it, both times previously the head 'had a word' with me about it & both times I logged onto FB in front of her & she looked at my pics, agreed that there was nothing out of order, so no further action was taken.
I asked then who it was who had complined but she would not tell me as she did not feel it in my best intrests!!

I am going to speak to the Head were I now work in thw morning, i'm sure there is something our HR/legal dept can do - Both schools are under the same council, so if a compliant is being made at one it could affect me at the other. The old saying 'No smoke' etc... If this person carries on bad mouhting me then it could have long term repercussions

This constitutes "Bullying" - unfounded or untrue accusation of errors or misconduct is one of the most common and widespread forms.

A possible way forward is to speak to HR and state the facts - someone (you don't know who) has now made unfounded and malicious allegations about you and that this is causing personal stress. This is being exacerbated by the fact that the allegations and their author are being kept confidential, and as a result the Management are failing to protect you from workplace bullying

Get HR to ask for justification of the allegations in writing including details, the substantive evidence that caused them to make these allegations and the dates.

This forces the person out into the open and to justify their actions. If they cannot then you have them for bullying, if the reasons are lies or in error then again you have a good claim against them for bullying again.

Be aware though that this is a difficult route to take.

 

[vernon]

This constitutes "Bullying" - unfounded or untrue accusation of errors or misconduct is one of the most common and widespread forms.

It's not happening in the OP's own workplace.

She is the parent of a child at the school whose headteacher had a word with her about an allegation.

She works elsewhere.

 

[funnymummy]

Am I reading this right? The SAME person has complained about YOU whilst you've been at two DIFFERENT schools?

No, the complinat has been made at the same school. My chidren go there & I used to work there.
The first two occasion was when I was working there over a year ago.
I've been at a different school since last Sept, the 'offence' this time was supposdley committed last week after our chidrens sports day

It doesn't work like that in schools.

There's a degree of pussy footing and a delicate balancing act that head teachers have to maintain. Revealing the identity simply will not happen.

The head teacher is being a bit of a pratt.

She should have demanded evidence from the accuser instead of propagating tittle tattle.

I've been involved in a gross misconduct appeal.

It's startling what evidence is asked to be disregarded on account of the source being anonymous or unable to attended the meeting to provide evidence to support a verbal account of a surveillance operation.

The headteacher is toothless:
She can't stand up to the accuser and tell her where to go with unsubstantiated allegations.
She should'nt have shared the allegations with the OP without evidence.
She's kowtowing to public opinion no matter how paranoid it is.

Essentially she is covering her own ass.

That was basicaly my arguemnet last time - Someone made an accusation against me, I asked fro proof, was told that no proof had been given by other party, meerly a verbal complaint. Told Head until she had actual proof that it was a load of crap!
A week later another complinat this time with a screen shot off my FB of several children singing in Assembly - Thing was it wasn't my photo - another parent had taken it & tagged me in it, but the accuser had cropped the bit off that showed who's album it was from, so i logged onto FB in front of Head & showed her that it was Mrs ****'s photo, I got an apology & was told that they woulsd inform the person that they were mistaken & that I had not posted the pic...Since hen there have no probs, but now i've been accused again, and from what I can make out, it seems like the same person!

 

[mightyquin]

Wonder if anyone on here knows the legal stance on this....
I've been accused of taking photos of children at my sons school & posting them onto Facebook!
I know this may seem a trivial matter, but their school has a strict No Photo policy after an incident a while back.
But they did allow us to take pictures at the recent Sports Days, the school field is alongside a road, so they could not stop parents from taking pics from the pavement/out of school boundaries, so agreed to parents taking pics for this day - after all parents prsent agreed.
These are the pictures I have been accused of putting on FB, and 'tagging' people in them. Yes, I did take pics, but I never put them on FB - I'm not stupid!
This is also not the first time I have been accused of doing this, the previous times I proved my innocence. But my concern is that someone obviously has a grudge against me, the school have confirmed it is the saem person again, but will not tell me who, I used to work at that school & previous allegations caused me a lot of trouble until I was cleared, as another parent stepped forward & admitted the pictures were theirs.
My worry now is that, they may try to take a step further & make serious allegations against me.

I have an idea who it might be, but can't prove it, unless my sons school tell me.
Do I have the right to know who my accuser is? And is what they are doing an offence?

Excuse me if someone else has stated this, but I've not read the full thread.

I'm a photographer and the issue of photography in public places has been a hot topic for the last few years, with all the paranoia over 'terrorism' and the like.

Essentially, there is no law to stop you from taking photos of anyone in public, full stop. If someone objects then fair enough, but you can choose to ignore them.

Schools and kids clubs (my mate runs a football club for kids) all seem to have 'no photography' policies, but again, they cannot be enforced.

As such, the person who is making allegations against you, have no grounds - you're not doing anything wrong. I guess the undertone here is that you are worried of being accused of being a paedophile. I reiterate, you are not doing anything wrong and should state the fact to whoever it is that has informed you of such allegations.

 

[albion]

Personally I would go direct to the police.Lots of internet activity is traceable and so could at least prove your innocence.

 

[vernon]

Personally I would go direct to the police.Lots of internet activity is traceable and so could at least prove your innocence.

It's not a police matter. No crimes have been committed.

 

[ufkacbln]

It's not happening in the OP's own workplace.

She is the parent of a child at the school whose headteacher had a word with her about an allegation.

She works elsewhere.

The way I read this was that the first instance happened when the OP was employed at the School, and this is a continuation of this episode. If this is the case then it remains bullying.

 

[mightyquin]

Whilst the OP is totally within their rights to take photos, clearly there is an ulterior motive, if they are concerned about the allegations, they could go to see the head of the school and call the police whilst there to ask them to attend. Face the issue head on - the head will have to state who is making the allegations then.

 

[albion]

And obviously now you have to stop taking photos and buy some official ones!More expanded advice from quinn.