BBC Radio 4 presenter John Humphrys has been slammed today after saying the ‘scales have been tipped a little too far’ in favour of victims of sexual assault cases.
Furious listeners have branded him a ‘dinosaur’ on social media while others accused him of sexism and called for him to retire.
The veteran Today programme presenter, 74, was interviewing Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions, when he suggested the ‘problem’ with sex assault cases was the accuser being named publicly while victims get anonymity.
He added there was ‘anecdotal’ evidence of a rise in the number of false claims and that is was ‘regrettable’ former prime minister Edward Heath’s ‘reputation was besmirched’ by historic child sex abuse allegations.
John Humphrys, pictured, has sparked a furious backlash after saying the ‘scales have been tipped a little too far’ in favour of victims of sex attacks on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme
His comments, including a claim that there is ‘anecdotal evidence’ of a rise in false accusations, have led to people accusing him of ‘lacking sensitivity and compassion’ and calling for him to retire
Others said the ‘shocking interview’ saw him focus more on ‘fake cases’ than the rise in convictions a CPS report on sex offences found
Criticism has been pouring in online, with some saying his remarks were ‘wholly inappropriate’.
Mr Humphrys was discussing a report published today by the Crown Prosecution Service which said a record number of people in England and Wales have been prosecuted for sexual offences, while convictions of violent crime against women and girls has increased from 69 per cent of cases in 2008 to 75 per cent this year.
Ms Saunders said: ‘Just because there is an acquittal, that doesn’t mean it was a false allegation. When we did some research and looked back at over 5,500 sexual assault cases, only a very small number of allegations were deemed false or malicious.
‘Of course we can only prosecute those who are alive and therefore have the ability to put their defence before a jury. The job of the police is to establish the facts and find out if there were any co-conspirators involved.’
He was also branded a ‘dinosaur’ for ‘banging on endlessly about false allegations’
Others said Mr Humphrys had not thought his comments through
The veteran presenter was also accused of ‘scoffing at the facts’ during the interview with Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders
Writing on Twitter, Hannah Mossman said: ‘Shocking interview @BBCr4today John Humphrys on increase in rape convictions. Focus on prosecution of women in ‘fake’ cases #everydaysexism’
Journalist Will Black added: ‘Dear John Humphrys, if you don’t think rape is a crime unless there is conviction, what about murder? You haven’t thought it through.’
And Shahil Parmar said: ‘John Humphrys abject lack of sensitivity & compassion on #r4today is beyond absolute belief. He ought to retire.’
Meanwhile The End Violence Against Women campaign tweeted: ‘Stop Humphrys doing these [interviews], they’re not ‘sex cases’, they’re sexual assaults & ‘anecdote’ isn’t basis for presuming false [allegation]’.
MailOnline has approached the BBC for comment.