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Original poster

Crime scene photos should not be available on the Internet should they?

23 replies

JakeBullet · 08/07/2013 14:50

I came across some disturbing images while reading about murders which occurred close to where I live (nearly 20 years ago now).

I started reading about the case because I saw a film (Essex Boys) about it. I knew people had been convicted etc but thought the background info might be interesting.
Probably a bit morbid of me but the case was huge news locally and absolutely shocking.

Anyhow the crime scene photos are freely available...they actually come up on Google images so you dont need to be looking for them, they are just THERE!

Tbh I was pretty shocked by what I saw as it was brutal and graphic.

Surely this can't be right. Is it worth me reporting the images to Google? Is it worth reporting them to the police as I am sure that the images should not be there.

OP posts:
BOF · 08/07/2013 14:55

They've been there for years. Was it. The shooting in the car case? I believe an MNer was offered the actual vehicle cheap Shock

EldritchCleavage · 08/07/2013 16:33

If the images were shown in court at the trial they are essentially in the public domain from then on. It's certainly distasteful to show them, but not illegal.

squeakytoy · 08/07/2013 16:35

I looked, as I am not all that squeamish about photos. To be honest I was quite surprised at what I saw, and yes they are brutally graphic, and particularly the morgue ones should not be in the public domain.

Latara · 08/07/2013 16:36

I think it's very sad for the families of the deceased when crime scene photos are available to view.

hiddenhome · 08/07/2013 16:45

What possible good can it do to have these images in the public sphere?

squeakytoy · 08/07/2013 16:45

It might make people think twice about dealing drugs I suppose...

Original poster
JakeBullet · 08/07/2013 17:31

Have reported the more graphic ones to Google but can't see that I can do much else. I am not especially squeamish (ex nurse and midwife) but the close up one I saw was not nice. I think if friends or family came across it then it could be quite distressing.

OP posts:
Original poster
JakeBullet · 08/07/2013 17:32

Yes BOF, three men shot dead in a Landrover down a narrow country lane. Lured there apparently...horrible anyway. Sad

OP posts:
zoraqueenofzeep · 08/07/2013 17:36

I can't believe that's legal!! It's disrespectful to the deceased and must be horrific for their familiesAngry

bittenipples · 08/07/2013 17:38

There some awful images on Google. I looked up 9 or 10 month old baby to see what my ds would look like and on the first page was a distressing crime scene image, which I can't now 'unsee'.

Needless to say it was reported

hudjes · 08/07/2013 18:20

I had a similar experience as bittennipples. I reported the image to google, but did not hear from them, so I don't know if they take any notice.

TheCunnyFunt · 08/07/2013 19:13

Bloody hell! Shock Are they real? Not reconstructions? That's horrific :(

Original poster
JakeBullet · 08/07/2013 19:24

Sadly they seem only too real. Am pretty certain that they are not reconstruction photis. The mortuary ones and the close ups of the bullet wounds are too real. Plus the eye one was horrible, dont think you coukd fake that.

To be ckear, these were not nice men Patrick Tate threatened the life of my friend after she reported him to police because while on her hospital ward he had a gun under his pillow. Various reports suggest that he was planning to blow away an arranged visitor to him (on the ward Shock). I have little knowledge of the othee two except that they were his associates and known criminals.

But they all have loved ones still living who would be hordified to see these images Sad

OP posts:
TheMouseDancing · 08/07/2013 19:31

Yanbu, I am glad you reported them to google but wouldn't be surprised if they did nothing about them.

I think I came across the same images when googling a film last year, they were horrific and gave me nightmares.

TidyDancer · 08/07/2013 19:42

Jesus. I'm not squeamish either so I looked, mainly because I thought you must be exaggerating and it couldn't be that bad. It was.

I am continually stunned what appears on the Internet.

1Veryhungrycaterpillar · 08/07/2013 19:46

I looked because I'm not squeamish and have plenty of photos like this through work, no they shouldn't be there but you didn't have to look it up, the Internet is Pandora's box

MalcolmTuckersMum · 08/07/2013 19:47

Bloody hell. Had to look but wish I hadn't.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 08/07/2013 19:47

I can't believe such a site can be allowed, why? who really wants to look at some of the stuff on there. I looked as I am a sucker for curiosity once a subject comes up but despite a strong stomach some of the images around the edges of the site had me switching straight off. there are some horrific images there. do people really browse happily through such stuff?

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 08/07/2013 19:49

caterpillar you are spot on there, Pandoras box indeed.

Januarymadness · 08/07/2013 19:54

Hmmmm I have seen a lot of crime scene photos (legitimate reason not morbid fascination) I dont think they should be illegal as they can be used for educational and research purposes. But I dont think they shoud be so free and easy to find or access. Maybe on sites you have to register to view etc.

garlicsmutty · 08/07/2013 20:09

To a degree, the internet is like random contents from everybody's cupboards. Results can be distressing ... but there's the option of looking away quickly, as in life. That doesn't mean nobody's ever going to be traumatised by what they find. I know people who never use the Web because they are easily traumatised and don't want to take the risk - it's a shame they simultaneously deny themselves all the worthwhile information that's available, but it's a personal judgement call.

Given how much the internet empowers people in zillions of ways, major and trivial, every second of every day, I am vehemently opposed to censorship. The British government is apparently working enthusiastically with the USA/FBI to develop increasingly tight control of our access to information and ability to share; if they get their way, it'll be tighter than China. Emotive complaints such as this, although sincere, may be seen as public support for increased official control of electronic information. For this reason I'm registering my opposition to ALL externally imposed data filtering, even when that data may be criminal or obscene.

Erm, I know this looks like overkill Blush 'Tis an issue close to my heart.

Original poster
JakeBullet · 08/07/2013 20:30

I think the thing is that I didn't go looking for them, in fact all I did was google the film title to see what info was there -you are right, I didn't HAVE to but I am nosy and this crime took place near to where I lived at the time.

What shocked me was that they came up in images on the top of the screen. Not in any website, just part of the search results, I didn't go any further, just saw them and looked in a "cannot believe what I am seeing" way. Curiosity got the better of me then and I looked through the google images, didn't go any further but tbh I didn't need to.

The Internet is a can of worms isn't it? Just have to be SO careful about what your age settings are.

OP posts:
1Veryhungrycaterpillar · 08/07/2013 20:35

YY to that JakeBullet, at the mont I don't let my DCs use the computer/iPad without me as they're so young but it is scary how one innocuous sentence can throw up such odd images, if a child saw them they wouldn't be able to cope

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