West Midlands woman who made false allegations fined and handed court order
The conviction relates to a false report made in February
A West Midlands woman who wasted police time with false allegations has been fined and handed a court order.
Tara Owen, 32, from Whittington, Worcestershire, was found guilty of causing wasteful employment of the police when she appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday (August 21) and was made subject to a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).
The order follows an incident in February where she made a false report to police claiming an offence had been committed. She was also fined £200 for the offence.
Under the order, which applies anywhere in England and Wales until July 16, 2029 . prohibits her from:
- Contacting three named individuals;
- Record or film any person, unless this action is agreed by the person being filmed or for a lawful purpose or through incidental capture;
- Report false and/or malicious allegations to West Mercia Police or any other agency or organisation;
- Behave in any manner that is likely to cause a nuisance to other residents or their visitors in the locality of where you live or where you are visiting.
West Mercia Police’s Safer Neighbourhood Inspector for Pershore, Becky Williams, said: “We are pleased to get this CBO for Owen whose malicious allegations about neighbours and the police officers and agencies who dealt with her wasted police time and caused upset to those involved.
“Making false reports or deliberately wasting police time is not a harmless act. It can divert resources away from critical incidents, increase costs to the public, and potentially put lives at risk.
“We will always investigate credible reports to the police, which is why those who knowingly misuse our resources can expect to be held accountable like Owen has been."