Over 4,000 teachers and lecturers each year face malicious allegations. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers has found that one quarter of school staff in the UK have been falsely accused by a pupil of wrongdoing, while one in six have faced malicious allegations from a pupil's family. And once falsely accused or subject to a prosecution their career is blighted. No one can be sure it won't happen to them. "Innocence Lost" examines the alarming rise in malicious allegations against educators. It interviews trade unionists, teachers and lawyers, examines the legislative and civil law framework that allows this injustice and provides practical legal guidance so readers can negotiate the maze of procedures, courts and legal issues. Combining authoritative legal analysis with sound professional advice, the book is an essential resource for anyone who finds themselves facing a malicious allegation, and for anyone interested in social, political and legal policy and social justice. It is indispensable for legal researchers, teaching unions, providers of teacher training, and personnel departments in schools and colleges.