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Original poster

Would you attend a peaceful protest if a convicted paedophile moved into your street?

807 replies

thefourgp · 11/11/2020 21:04

I’ve never attended anything similar before and I’m in two minds about going. He was convicted (I’ve read the newspaper articles which show his photo) and has been released after serving half his sentence. I don’t know if he owns the property but he’s moved in with his wife who stood by him. There’s a peaceful protest being arranged. Would you go?

OP posts:
LilacPebbles · 13/11/2020 16:56

Until the day child predators are locked up for life (never), they do have to live somewhere. I guess you'd have to move.

PheasantPlucker1 · 13/11/2020 16:57

Nope Bill. Sorry, but its still the peadophile putting people at risk.

BillMasen · 13/11/2020 16:58

@PheasantPlucker1

Nope Bill. Sorry, but its still the peadophile putting people at risk.
I don’t dispute that, but why can you not accept vigilante action increases that risk, not reduces it
supportivemyarse · 13/11/2020 16:59

I keep going back to UV tattoos. they can go where they like then, sort of. even be let out early rather than cost us all a bloody fortune with longer sentences that many don't want for reasons such as killing the victims. call me unenlightened, stupid IDGAF but there's a certain logic to it, in tandem with other controls.

PheasantPlucker1 · 13/11/2020 17:03

Im not disputing that Bill (apologies I keep checking then forgetting your full name.

Vigilante justice is not a desired outcome.
Neither is having a paedophile on the street.

But I think the focus should be on changing the law, increasing sentences, more police involvement after release, etc. rather than complaining when people take the law into their own hands.

As for moving... I think I actually would if it happened in my street, but cant imagine it'd do much for house prices!

BillMasen · 13/11/2020 17:07

@PheasantPlucker1

Im not disputing that Bill (apologies I keep checking then forgetting your full name.

Vigilante justice is not a desired outcome.
Neither is having a paedophile on the street.

But I think the focus should be on changing the law, increasing sentences, more police involvement after release, etc. rather than complaining when people take the law into their own hands.

As for moving... I think I actually would if it happened in my street, but cant imagine it'd do much for house prices!

My point is that, there is a chance you will live next to one. You can either have it known and open, or secret and hidden

Protests make the latter more likely, and I believe that is the less acceptable of the 2 scenarios.

You can discuss other options all you like but given the current laws and processes those are likely to be your 2 possibilities

Would you prefer the latter? I doubt it

Oneearringlost · 13/11/2020 17:08

@NonCisWoman
"There should be a town built where all of these monsters can live together."

Well, they often all live together on the Internet, and that's going well.

MrsSpringfield · 13/11/2020 17:08

@PheasantPlucker1

Im not disputing that Bill (apologies I keep checking then forgetting your full name.

Vigilante justice is not a desired outcome.
Neither is having a paedophile on the street.

But I think the focus should be on changing the law, increasing sentences, more police involvement after release, etc. rather than complaining when people take the law into their own hands.

As for moving... I think I actually would if it happened in my street, but cant imagine it'd do much for house prices!

Agree with you.

People don't feel like justice has been served because it hasn't.

jessstan1 · 13/11/2020 17:14

[quote Oneearringlost]@NonCisWoman
"There should be a town built where all of these monsters can live together."

Well, they often all live together on the Internet, and that's going well.[/quote]
There is somewhere in America. Louis Theroux did a programme on it.

PheasantPlucker1 · 13/11/2020 17:24

BillMasen that isnt the choice, as accepting a known paedophile living next door doesnt diminish the risk of the unknown one on the other side.

I can not do anything about the unknown, unconvicted or hidden ones.

I can refuse to live near known ones so I would do the only thing I legally could, and protest that.

BillMasen · 13/11/2020 17:31

@PheasantPlucker1

BillMasen that isnt the choice, as accepting a known paedophile living next door doesnt diminish the risk of the unknown one on the other side.

I can not do anything about the unknown, unconvicted or hidden ones.

I can refuse to live near known ones so I would do the only thing I legally could, and protest that.

But you can have an impact. Accepting the known does diminish the risk of the unknown as it creates an environmemt where they don’t need to hide.

Protesting leads to an environment where they may fear for their safety and go underground

So yes, you do diminish the risk,

EatTheHamTina · 13/11/2020 17:36

We lived next to a pedo when we were younger and he took pictures of little girls doing handstands in the summer with dresses on.
I would do anything to get the perv out and his stupid twat of a wife.

PheasantPlucker1 · 13/11/2020 17:39

I can completely see your point Bill and its a very good one. Logically that makes perfect sense.

Realistically the idea of living like that makes me sick. Its just not something I could ever accept.

Something must change, but it will not be me accepting these people as members of the local community

PutBabyInTheCorner · 13/11/2020 19:03

@howaboutholly 'morals' in the sense that even hardened criminals find child rapists abhorrent. Some might think other crimes are comparable but I'd rather live next door to a murderer than a child sex offender.
@PheasantPlucker1 I agree

mbosnz · 13/11/2020 19:36

I can refuse to live near known ones so I would do the only thing I legally could, and protest that.

Well no, there's another thing you can legally do. You can put your house on the market and move. Put your money where your mouth is so to speak.

PheasantPlucker1 · 13/11/2020 20:31

Well no, as I said legally the only thing I could do is protest, so Id do that.

Itscontroversial · 13/11/2020 20:52

Vigilantes ensured that my ex was not convicted. They plastered his face all over facebook with their allegations and messed up collecting evidence. His solicitor was able to find enough problems with the case to get it thrown out. So, he is now a free man with access to my children. I've been advised by both my solicitor and social services that I should let him see them to a point as if he goes to court for contact he will probably get it and maybe more than the minimum that he currently gets, such as overnight. When it all first happened I was really scared for my and my children's safety because of this sort of vigilantism. I was scared we'd be attacked or our house set on fire or something and very worried for my children socially. The comments made about me on the vigilante group's page were horrible and very upsetting, assuming that I knew and would be standing by him. In fact he never came home after his arrest, I refused to let him and our relationship is dead for good. If these people had suspicions about his behaviour (and for what it's worth having seen their "evidence" I believe their concerns, it involves online stuff not face to face, not that that is ok) they should have gone straight to the relevant authorities because look where taking the law into their own hands got them. And my family. So I have zero respect for have a go heroes, they are usually attention seeking thugs. I fully agree that this type of protest is all about the protestors and will make children less safe not more as predators are forced to hide.

Original poster
thefourgp · 13/11/2020 20:52

@PheasantPlucker1 I agree with you

OP posts:
LilacPebbles · 13/11/2020 21:22

Itscontroversial if only these idiots would engage their brains enough to know that they are jeopardising cases and robbing victims of proper justice. I'm really sorry this has happened to you and your kids and for what you're now left dealing with Thanks

studychick81 · 13/11/2020 22:55

Certainly I would join and be very vocal. I suspect that all those who are pc who say no, they need to live somewhere are from the as long as it's not on my road brigade.

Yes there are probably unknown ones living nearby but that doesn't mean I should or would accept a known one.

They need to live somewhere-yes prison. IMO when you rape a 5 yo you permanently forfeit any rights to freedom, community or a normal life. I expect their victims life has been changed forever so they shouldn't get to live a normal life.

Nicknacky · 13/11/2020 22:58

studychick81 What would you hope to achieve?

Turtleturtle81 · 13/11/2020 23:34

[quote NotTheToothFairy22]@BananaPop2020 but they ARE turning a blind eye. Don't go to protest then, fair enough, not everyone has that mentality or feels like it will help. But the responses on here are actually insane, defending the rights of a paedophile. Surely doing nothing IS turning a blind eye?[/quote]
The actions you suggest actually put more children at risk. I think your concern is actually for yourself and not for children. Classic NIMBYism - you just don’t want them living near you. If you were really bothered, you would do something more constructive.

Smokeyrobinson · 13/11/2020 23:50

Definitely.

PurpleFrames · 13/11/2020 23:59

What is the perfect rational and non NIMBY response to living near a sex offender then? Rolling over and accepting it without a word? Why should children have to be restricted? Why should we live in fear of someone who should not even be in mainstream society at all.

Crankley · 14/11/2020 00:06

I see some neanderthals are out with their pitchforks.

Any one of you could be living next door to a paedophile. That lovely bloke who helps carry your shopping to your front door, or the NDN who brings round a parcel he took in for you, you have a nice chat, he's such a lovely guy.

Your older daughter's boyfriend, he works at the youth centre, great sense of humour, patiently plays board games with GF's young sister. Everyone loves him until younger sister plucks up the courage to tell her DM what he has been doing to her. This is what happened to my sister and her daughters. It can be just anyone.