Is this guy a peado or am I being paranoid?

Children's play areas tend to have items that children play on such as swings and slides. That's how come we know they're designated areas for children.

Yes, they had the perfect opportunity in 2020 to get rid of park benches, in case people spread that pesky virus by sitting on them.

Man somewhere near children = paedophile, with 110% certainty, not even 77%.
Only on Mumsnet.
Only on Mumsnet.
Only on Mumsnet.

And good luck finding a police officer who wants to know, or a "park warden". Somebody has been watching About a Boy, in which a "park warden" says "are the one who was throwing bloody great loaves at the duck?".

Where does it say that there are some swings and slides?

You do realise they're not trading photos of fully clothed kids in playgrounds on the dark web, dont you..?

There's a park with some swings and slides, near it are park benches. There is no 'section', there's the rest of the park with some benches. A man is sitting on the bench, with a dog and using his phone. We don't know what he's doing with his phone.

The rest is conjecture and I predict a feeding frenzy.

Why's it acceptable for OP to definitely take photos of a stranger because she thinks that's what he might be doing and she isn't happy with it?

Either way, not illegal. As long as parents are dressing their children and so the hypothetical images are not indecent (and watching to make sure they're physically safe), there's nothing really happening even if he has some photos that they appear in.

When my kid was small I noticed a couple of middle aged men, no kids, on a bench in the park showing each other their phones and I think filming. I didn’t say anything but thinking about it afterwards, I couldn’t imagine they were not up to no good.

call 101 and log it. The police won't go in all guns blazing but they may do a walk round to check it out and if he is a registered sex offender they may recognise him and be able to take action.

I can’t believe so many parents would be totally unmoved by a person who appears to be taking photos of minors.

Where is the park? Who maintains its? Ie parish council or city council? Let someone there know - there will be someone within who is responsible for open spaces and maintenance. It’s a safeguarding concern - they might not be able to do anything but at the least you can find out.

Sounds weird and like he could be a paedophile. However, it’s not illegal to be a paedaphile and they are allowed to take photos of children in public places. So, grim though it may be, I would let it go. Especially if you aren’t willing to strike up a conversation with him to see if you can get a sense of him.

No, there's an unenclosed children's play area, marked by the high presence of children and the things they use to play

Being sat repeatedly in such a section, appearing to take photos blatantly, with an attachment on your phone, is weird and a cause for concern

Could he be reading on his phone? Not taking photos?

Why is everyone who is scared of paedophiles unable to spell it?

a person sexually attracted to children

Sounds a lot like MAP to me. Use the correct term. A paedophile.

OP I would be concerned too. Worth a 101 call if nothing else.

Then everyone in the park is in the children's play area because it's part of the park. Are they all paedophiles?

He's not recording. The OP thinks he's taking pictures. He's sitting on a bench while walking his dog and using his phone. That's all we know.

I'm really not sure what to say to this tbh, so let's leave it at that

Never said anything about calling him a paedophile. Could just be put on MN, fun in the park! Living life! Loving life in the park! Look at this cute dog! No filter!

I do think it would make sense to talk to the community policing team and just flag this up. It could of course be entirely innocent and hopefully they will establish this, but better safe than sorry.

But you're so sure he's a wrong'un

Sharing videos and photos of him whilst calling him a paedophile, however, would be illegal

No-one here has seen him?? We are relying on the op

Yes its a children's play area, for children, as part of the wider park

Its weird to be sat there where little kids are when youre a grown man, giving the impression of recording, repeatedly

You think about how your behaviour comes across to others, in such a situation, and move further away

I certainly wouldnt want to potentially be on the receiving end of concerns from local mums because i'm making them uncomfortable

Criminals are everywhere and better reporting the concerns to be safe rather than sorry

This man is just sitting in a PUBLIC park, presumably whilst walking his dog, using his phone

You haven't seen him but are quite sure he's in the children's area and obviously taking photos...

Take photos of him taking photos and put them here on MN. It’s not illegal after all. Maybe video too.