'Burning people at the stake' is the stuff of fable and playwrights – or is it? The modern day witch hunt seems a spreading phenomenon. But the techniques used to spread rumour, fear and mistrust are as old as Joan of Arc:

• media hysteria
• accusations of child abuse
• public vilification of accused without proof
• accusations of mental manipulation
• misuse of the legal system
• police trawling replacing investigation
• use of inflammatory terminology to target minority groups – such as pejorative use of labels like 'cults' 'mind control' ‘brainwashing’

Using false allegations of child abuse as a weapon By Nicky Robinson Aug 2009 Read more... The Outreau affair - France A miscarriage of justice calls an entire system into question. Read more... Bryn Estyn - England 'The Secret of Bryn Estyn: the making of a modern witch hunt' Read more...