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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that these Peadophile Catchers are not a bad thing?

91 replies

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 23/04/2013 10:43

Just read about Letzgo Hunting. A group of vigilante parents who are actively setting up fake meetings with potential pedophiles and then filming them for evidence...they're recording internet conversations and posing as underage girls....creating "sting" operations.

The group have been the cause of 6 arrests...men who have gone to meet decoys basically.

I know vigilante activity is "wrong" but part of me is thinking GOOD!! GOOD go and catch these men. They're not beating the men up...they're not torturing them or anything they don't even reveal their names or anything to the public...they just inform the police.

How is that bad? They're not hurting the men who are arranging to meet children for sex....so....how is this bad?

OP posts:
FlankShaftMcWap · 23/04/2013 11:52

Looked at the Letzgo page, saw EDL as one of their "liked" pages... Of course.

7 arrests, 0 charges. Of course.

It seems to me the actual evidence needed to convict is secondary to the naming and shaming aspect. Absolute waste of time, unless their real aim is to get the crowds baying. In which case, job done.

adeucalione · 23/04/2013 12:13

The Guardian is reporting that all 7 were released on bail, so surely that means that they have been charged and are awaiting trial?

adeucalione · 23/04/2013 12:16

Sorry in Guardian here

jacks365 · 23/04/2013 12:18

Released on police bail means police looking into it to see if they can charge, its what they do when they have run out of time for questioning but not enough evidence to charge. If charged it goes to an initial court hearing and then either courts remand or release on bail but that is then described differently.

Original poster
NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 23/04/2013 12:25

It's a shame if the EDL jump on things like this. I can't stomach those of you who are suggesting that a 50 year old man meeting up with a 14 year old is less wrong than one who meets a 12 year old.

OP posts:
Original poster
NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 23/04/2013 12:26

Arrests like this will flag up men (and women) who may have evidence on their computers of other related crimes.

OP posts:
adeucalione · 23/04/2013 12:26

Ah I see jacks, so I guess we need to wait to see whether they are charged or not.

Original poster
NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 23/04/2013 12:30

Mumsnet is great but it pisses me off no end when people start whinging about "Peedo hysteria" and making out that it's wrong to want to DO anything about the perverts who prey on children. Yes...I know many of them were abused too...I know many of them are mentally ill....I don't give a shit though.

I really don't. Men and Women like that do not belong in society with vulnerable innocents who are then at risk because of a chain of abuse.

OP posts:
Rollmops · 23/04/2013 12:31

''Because it's entrapment.''

No, it's catching them in the act.

Original poster
NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 23/04/2013 12:35

And no...I don't believe that people who suffer from other types of mental illness should be locked away...I really don't...just this type.

OP posts:
YoothaJoist · 23/04/2013 12:35

Mumsnet is great but it pisses me off no end when people start whinging about "Peedo hysteria"

Try the Daily Mail boards then. They might be more your sort of thing.

Original poster
NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 23/04/2013 12:37

Yes yes....I don't think so Yootha. I don't go there...but you'd feel more comfy if I DID wouldn't you? Then you could dismiss my views and box me off neatly.

OP posts:
YoothaJoist · 23/04/2013 12:40

Your views are ill thought out and revolting to any right minded person. Better?

Original poster
NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 23/04/2013 12:42

I'm educated and well read...I just won't excuse people who prey on children and yes, they are mostly men. They don't need your pity or your care. They're very capable of looking after themselves and their "needs" too.

Especially in a PC world where their human rights are put above the safety of children.

If the thought of a child rapist being removed from society is revolting to you then I pity you.

OP posts:
TheCraicDealer · 23/04/2013 12:45

Neo, I don't think anyone is saying that we should turn a blind eye to paedophilia (or hebephiles or ephebophiles). It's just we're questioning whether or not this sort of vigilante activity will really help to put people who hurt children or vulnerable teens behind bars, or will it make them more aware of the risks and change their MO?

For an example of how vigilante groups can turn bad, quickly, you just need to look at Derry in NI. Republican Action Against Drugs is a group quite similar which purports to keep drugs away from working class areas within their "control". You know, for the good of the youth and all that, not because they want to control drug supply chains or anything like that Hmm People have been forced to leave the city to England or Scotland and warned if they come back they or their family will be killed/kneecapped/maimed. Have they had a trial, been able to defend themselves or been able to return to society after paying their dues? Nope.

Once this crowd start to get frustrated at the lack of action their investigations result in, they'll start dealing out their own justice. And that is not a society you want to live in.

BlueberryHill · 23/04/2013 12:48

No one is saying that a child rapist being removed from society is revolting, just questioning whether or not these actions will actually achieve that. If they aren't convicted, because of flawed evidence gathering then it doesn't help.

If you want to be angry, be angry that CEOP will cease to exist as a separate division, resulting in the Head resigning in protest. It will be amalgamated into another division, I hope it will still retain all its funding and focus but given that the reorganisation is probably financially driven, I doubt it.

YoothaJoist · 23/04/2013 16:19

Jesus. So in your world, if you're not pro vigilantism you're an apologist for child rape?

Like I say, revolting. And offensive. And ignorant.

lljkk · 23/04/2013 16:32

I just think true Paedos deserve their own special circle of Hell and the rest are merely sordid in a more ordinary way (most crimes have an element of yuck to them).

DreamsTurnToGoldDust · 23/04/2013 16:40

I think YoothaJoist has said it all really, no to vigilantism, I would be very wary of anyone wanting to join these sort of things tbh. Leave it to the police who are trained in this area.

WallyBantersYoniBox · 23/04/2013 16:46

I'd be concerned about the mental state of the people doing this exercise.

One of my school friends works as a consultant with the police on Child internet sites and grooming. It's a very draining line of work, and she has a good support network and access to counselling, and has been trained to do the job.

These people have no support network whatsoever, and no control guidelines for what they are doing. They might read or see some soul destroying stuff.

And I know you'd love to believe they had innocent intentions, but I remember the two Cambridgeshire police officers who worked on the Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells murder inquiry and who were charged with child pornography offences. These were "insiders" in this line of work.

Justforlaughs · 23/04/2013 16:47

If you suspect that someone online chatting to your child is not what they seem then go to the police, don't jeopardise a conviction by setting a honeytrap for them. The police take this very seriously, and they want convictions, which is why they warning people that this kind of action can actually hinder an investigation. It may well be that the perpetrator is already being watched and that investigation is being put at risk. I'm sure the motives are good but extreme care should be taken.

EldritchCleavage · 23/04/2013 16:50

Well, I'm not sure the motives are good.
Could have good motives.
Could be getting off on it themselves.
Could be self-aggrandising gits wanting to play the hero and damn the consequences for others.
Could be a stalking horse for some unpleasant EDL or other less than palatable political agenda.

We don't know. But I don't want anyone setting himself or herself to police me without the training, hierarchy and safeguards of, you know, the actual police. Which are meagre enough.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 23/04/2013 16:57

How do these vigilantes know if their target isn't already the subject of a wider police investigation? They may very helpfully wreck months of police work aimed a uncovering a group of abusers by setting up a situation with one of them.

TheToysAreALIVEITellThee · 23/04/2013 17:05

Im actually stunned at this thread.

The other day I read a mountain of posts telling someone to report a non-issue to SS because it was better that someone be accused who is innocent, than a guilty person getting away with it.

And here we have people who are wanting to meet up WITH CHILDREN WITH THE SOLE INTENT OF LORD KNOWS WHAT and people are up in arms about it?

Bloody priceless this site it really is.

WallyBantersYoniBox · 23/04/2013 17:10

It's quite a big site Toys so not necessarily the same posters.

No one is advocating that we allow pedophiles to roam free. I think most people are saying that the police should deal with this for a myriad of problematic reasons.

Why don't they go so far and then hand the evidence to the police? I think they enjoy the thrill of the meeting and the confrontation, personally.