Help me out here/ urgent

[Kab13]

At a soft play, 90% sure there's aan taking photos of random children. Seem him sat on his phone with camera on. Told the managers don't seem to be doing much .
Not sure if he got a shot of my dd who ran infront of him. He's acting very shifty.
What do I do?
He's here with his son...

[ILovePud]

It'd be more of a shame if the thread put off a parent or carer who had concerns from speaking out for fear of being labelled hysterical or having their concerns derided as happened to the OP.

[forumdonkey]

But the OP didn't see anything! Thats the point. A man alone with his children seemed to have his phone up taking photos, of what is not known because it wasn't seen. OP herself said she was only 90% sure and in the context of the surroundings and the fact he neither approached or spoke to any child I really don't see other than OP's opinion that it made her feel uneasy that this poor guy did anything wrong. Its piss poor if a bloke can't get his phone out for the fear of accusations. OP didn't feel confident enough in her convictions to approach the guy and polite ask him not to take photos, neither did the centre staff who IMO after being alerted to it should have approached him.

I don't think IMO from the OP any child was in any danger from this man, by where he was or by his actions.

[SuggestmeaUsername]

I think OP was right to be concerned. It may have been nothing but the OP believed the man was using his camera in a suspicious way so was best to report it to management. She asked on MN for advice and views on what to do but some on here seem to have mocked her. not sure why people think it is okay to do that

[ILovePud]

I think this thread has touched a nerve for me and I felt that the OP was being bullied earlier on, I didn't set out to be rude to anyone, sorry if I have been Donkey. There's clearly some very different perspectives on this issue but obviously I hope this was just an innocent dad cack-handedly taking selfies.

[DoubleValiumLattePlease]

The poor man was probably bored witless and watching Sky News or something on his phone. The fact is that the OP did not and could not see what he was doing with his phone and the whole premise of her hysteria is conjecture.
I'd take the word of a professional in the field any single day of any week over the chattering brigade who are making this a very difficult world for men.

[forumdonkey]

No offence taken Ilovepud that is what a public forum is for My final word from personal experience (not speaking from professional) is the way to help protect your DC's is education and educating them from an early age. It can be done age appropriately - no one is allowed to touch them in swim suit area, make them feel uncomfortable or scared. You are allowed to have surprises (where others will eventually know) but nobody should ask to keep secrets etc etc. They should know they can tell anyone other than you, if there is something bothering or worrying them, eg an aunt, a teacher, a grandparent etc

[theendoftheendoftheend]

Official guidance is that EVERYONE is responsible for safeguarding children (Working together to safeguard children 2013) people are encouraged to report anything that concerns them. If its all innocent and there are no concerns no harm done, if it isn't its potantially valuable information lost. No one on here knows who he was or what he was doing. If OP had of reported it to the police she the information would have been recorded, assessed and appropriate action taken. Berating OP for her concerns about something that no one else had witnessed was really quite poor.

[funkybuddah]

I've not read the whole thread but he could have the camera on so he can 'catch' his child as they go by/waiting for other kids to move out the way. He could be trying to take discrete snapchat selfies and is trying not to be caught pulling a funny face (I'm not even joking here)

Personally I wouldn't have reacted to a father using his camera (how many threads do we have about people saying they will film the nativity despite being told no, this is similar TBh) but you felt uncomfortable, reported it and remained aware. There isn't more you can do as there is very little that rings alarm bells for me.

[Squobble]

Echoing the earlier poster who said snapchat - sometimes mid conversation there is nothing to snap other than a nearby table/chair before adding your text.