{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/780454.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":780454,"attributes":{"action":"Protect the Innocent-Reform Britain’s Approach to Historical Sexual Offences","background":"We call on the UK Government and Parliament to review safeguards in historical sexual offence prosecutions where the complainant’s account is the sole evidence capable of establishing the alleged offence, ensuring defendants receive a fair trial and are protected against unsafe convictions.","additional_details":"We call on the UK Government and Parliament to urgently strengthen safeguards in historical sexual offence prosecutions where the complainant’s account is the sole evidence capable of establishing the alleged offence. No person should be convicted unless guilt is safely proven beyond reasonable doubt. The seriousness of an allegation must never replace evidence. Victims deserve justice, but so do innocent defendants. The presumption of innocence and right to a fair trial must mean exactly that.","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":8,"created_at":"2026-08-25T19:56:15.805Z","updated_at":"2026-09-17T11:51:48.642Z","rejected_at":"2026-09-17T11:51:44.707Z","opened_at":null,"closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-08-25T22:52:20.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":{"code":"no-action","details":"We are not sure what new safeguard or legal change you want the Government to introduce. You also ask for protections that already exist in UK law - presumption of innocence, proof beyond reasonable doubt, and judicial safeguards in historical cases.\r\n\r\nYou could start a new, more specific petition about the changes you want to see."},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}