WWYD if you knew some dodgy stuff about a scout leader?

[DrMorse]

The leader in question has had several affairs (hus wife knows) but also uses adultworks to meet prostitutes and has a fairly high 'feedback rating'. I've alsom found him use the same username on a porn forum which has a teen babes section. He leads scouts and explorers so from age 10 up to about 17.

It brings scouts into disrepute. I probably wouldn't do anything but I would encourage him to stop one or both, can't continue like that.

For your friend's sake, I think you have to report it. Otherwise if someone else finds out about it, he and his wife (because of the adultworks/open marriage) could end up in the middle of a complete media shitstorm. So for everyone's sakes, I really think you should call Scout HQ on Monday. They have processes for this type of occurrence and they know your friend so they are the best placed to decide what to do next.

Guiding District Commissioner here. Ask to speak to his DC in confidence.

I don't think he's someone I'd want to be friends (re the hookers...I'm fine with porn) but it doesn't sound like he's more likely to have an interest in teenage girls than anyone else. As someone else said, all porn forums would have a teenage bit I'd have thought. AFAIK most of the "barely legal" girls are in their mid twenties but with pigtails (horrible).
Very, very stupid to be identifiable online though in these sorts of arenas when he's supposed to be a role model for young people at a fairly vulnerable time in their development. I have no idea how Scouts will deal with this.

Thanks. I have an email address for the area's district commissioner now. Now just to carefully word an email.

I do still think you would be better calling HQ. Depending on how you found the DC's email it may be out of date. Plus it may divert to a main recruitment email, etc. The only way you can be sure of maintaining confidentiality and that the information reaches the correct person is by speaking to someone.

You can ask to speak to someone concerning a safeguarding issue in ????(whatever region he is in). It's not a safeguarding issue yet but it's the same team who will need to discuss it which will usually be his DC; HQ PR; HQ safeguarding and the legal team if necessary. If you want a written trail that you have reported it, you can ask for the email address of the person you speak to. I doubt it will be the first time they have come across something like this.

DC will contact either regional or national HQ for advice, but needs to know. Don't go over his/her head. HQ will probably refer back to District/Region anyway.

Would be good to know what the outcome is OP.

What!!! An adult having sex with other consenting adults and looking at porn is some sort of threat to children? I think that rules out most of the adult population!

he is my friend
Fuck! Who needs enemies with friends like you?

He's done nothing wrong. As a consenting adult he can do what he wants in his own time. His sex life (as long as it is with consenting adults) has nothing to do with anyone else. What are you going to report him for?

Youth leaders have an outside life.. Shock horror. he's not done anything illegal. He may have been silly to use the same user name.. Whilst on dating sites myself I've come across fathers of children in my group, who are still married to / living with the children's mother. As much as I'm disgusted it's their lives and the wife may know for all I know.. It's stupid but they we are. Who are you to judge how someone else is living their life?