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

[thefourgp]

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?

PheasantPlucker1 Aah, just a typical poster who says their opinion and trying to imply it’s fact and can’t back it up.

It really, really doesn't work like that, studychick. People don't either decide to just return to prison or get sent to prison just because their neighbours kick up a fuss at their living location.

BananaPop no I havent.

Because I have tried engaging and now you demand evidence of things that are easily googled.

Why dont you defend your points?

Why dont you explain why you think parents who dont want to live near convicted sex offenders are being called all those vile names?

Called thick, hard of thinking, vigilante, violent, rent a mob, illogical, criminal, the list of abuse goes on and on.

Yet not one word against the paedophile.

Pheasant are you not able to comprehend that everyone is disgusted at paedophila, whilst also not tolerating thickos who think throwing their weight around DOESNT ACTUALLY WORK?

PheasantPlucker1 Can I asked exact what you googled so I can read what you read?

Surely it goes without saying that the paedophile would be universally hated? Why do you think otherwise?

@PheasantPlucker1 I have defended my points throughout this thread. However, in this particular instance, you have made a baseless statement, NickNacky has asked you to evidence it - and you can’t.

I havent googled personally, its lived experience of giving evidence in court that reduced jurors to tears than watching someone walk with a suspended sentence.

Google paedos given suspended sentences.

Or keep calling me thick if that makes you feel morally superior?

Prison sentences are becoming less common for paedophilia tbf, with suspended sentences being given and MAPPA meetings put in place instead. It's down to vast prison numbers and children's safety not being a priority of those in power. Again, nothing vigilantes can sort out. Tariffs need to increase.

@PheasantPlucker1, your lived experience is not evidence of a general shift in sentencing policy. As for you reference to being called ‘thick’, that wasn’t me.

If you want to campaign about something campaign for more police and probation in sex offender monitoring and greater post conviction powers for more effective supervision

Spot on in principle - though actually my own preference is campaigning for more whole life sentences

Incidentally, among the cries of "not going to happen" I've not yet heard any rational arguments for why this couldn't be done if the will was there ...

PheasantPlucker1 Yes, I thought you had just made up your statement. I’m intrigued in your statement that lengths of sentences are getting short which implies you had researched it.

I don’t need to google it. I report sex offenders to the crown office in a regular basis so I’m well aware of the different sentences they get.

Nicknacky so you are aware peadophiles get suspended sentences then?

Can you admit that is true?

@LilacPebbles actually, one of the reasons for (First time) sex offenders getting non- custodial remedies is that they are unlikely to get a sentence long enough to do any intervention work. It also comes done to the ability to manage people in the community - if they can be managed, prison becomes a punitive measure only.

Why the anger and hate at these "rent a mob, vigilante, illogical, thick (and all the other names they have been called)" parents who just dont want their children raped? Can anyone answer that?

It's not anger, it's frustration. Frustration that people are willing to put children in more danger through their activities. And frustration that those who don't want that to happen are accused of being paedophile supporters and being happy for children to be raped.

A poster on this very thread has explained how vigilantes allowed her ex to escape justice and she has been conveniently ignored.

After two seconds on google.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/02/low-level-paedophiles-could-avoid-jail-terms-new-guidance/

PheasantPlucker1 Sorry, can you direct me to my post where I have said sex offenders DON’T get suspended sentences as I have never once said that.

Because vigilantes have also led to the arrest of thousands.

Obviously vigilante justice is not how this should be dealt with, but they are doing the job people percieve the police not to be doing.

That post came just after one from a women raised near a peadophile, and her experience. Neither are acceptable.

@PheasantPlucker1 please see my post above, which covers this.

That's right, banana. I can't say I agree with it- first offence is only in reality the first time the offender has actually been caught out. I work in the system and have done so for long enough to know it's broken. It was never designed to 'serve' women and children. The fact that most of the prison population is made up of mentally unwell mostly young men for drug offences doesn't sit right with me at all but that's a whole different thread!
All we can do is enforce current law and not condone vigilantism as that only brings another set of problems (most of which have been pointed out throughout the thread but some will remain obtuse).

Nicknacky sex offences in general, rather than just child ones at a 5year low according to this one.

www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/06/prosecution-rate-in-england-and-wales-falls-to-five-year-low

To get back on track.
If you lived next door next to someone convicted of these hideous crimes, how would you react?

Would you still feel happy watching him watch children, your children, play on the street?

If not, how would you react?

@LilacPebbles I work in the system too! I DO agree with non-custodials in some cases.

"low-level-paedophiles-could-avoid-jail-terms-new-guidance"

Unfortunately I can't read the Telegraph article as it has a paywall, but doesn't this raise the question of how a "low level" paedophile will be defined?

And isn't there a risk that, in the "competition" for prison spaces, there'll be a temptation to downgrade even serious cases?

There was one moved to our village as part of his release. A council owned property that had had been used as a half way house previously. People posted his picture all over social media and he was moved on pretty quickly. Although it was pointed out that there was probably others we didn't know the appearance of.

Because vigilantes have also led to the arrest of thousands

So on that basis you're happy for thousands of others to escape justice? How does that tie in with wanting children to be safe?

No one is saying they don't want paedophiles prosecuted except those who are saying they don't mind some escaping justice because it's a price worth paying.