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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this petition is not ok

245 replies

NotInMyBackYard1 · 09/02/2017 20:03

Just that really - a man convicted of possessing indecent images of children has returned from prison and gone back to live at his parent's house. The locals have got hold of this information and have now set up a petition to get him 'rehomed' somewhere with no children. Outer Hebrides?
My view is he's done his time, he wants a fresh start, as long as he keeps himself to himself then just let him be? This petition doesn't sit well with me at all.

OP posts:
SharkBastard · 09/02/2017 20:46

So we should move these offenders from a place where they're 'known' to a place where their actions are not 'known' therefore risk is increased to others?

He will never not be known as a paedophile, and your children will know and their children will know etc and therefore his opportunity will be reduced. The police etc will be able to monitor him more easily therefore reducing risk again

WannaBe · 09/02/2017 20:46

Well, at least with the paedophile who has done time and back in the community the authorities and his peers know who and where he is. The ones we should be more concerned with are the ones who live next door but who haven't been caught yet.

SharkBastard · 09/02/2017 20:47

Mad I study this...I work with these people.

Please again tell me how my attitude is

Original poster
NotInMyBackYard1 · 09/02/2017 20:47

Shark yes that's my concern, that the 'vigilante justice brigade' popping up in the comments section of the petition are going to drive him to reoffend. From what I have been told, he wants to keep away, keep to himself, not get into trouble - I feel this petition may achieve the opposite, it names him, names the street, the location.

OP posts:
Sweets101 · 09/02/2017 20:49

Yes, I think the petition is counter productive, make him the loner, make him the freak, make him reoffend...cycle again

What? Confused The type of people who commit these types of crimes often aren't 'loners'. What are you trying to say that he's turned to paedophilia after being rejected by the wider community? That isn’t how it works.

SharkBastard · 09/02/2017 20:51

No but being ousted time and time again increases his disordered psychological state, again increasing the risk of reoffending

Sweets101 · 09/02/2017 20:52

Drive him to reoffend? On what basis?

If it names him etc, it's concerning for his and his parents safety I should think, he might have to move for his own safety. But drive him to reoffend? That's an odd sentiment to have.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 09/02/2017 20:53

What do you think we should do with these people.

Trust me. It isn't fit for print. What I'd like to do to them!!!!!!!Angry.

Scrumptiousbears · 09/02/2017 20:55

There are children everywhere. You will. It be able to house him away from children.

There are peodophiles everywhere that you have no idea about.

As long as you keep your children safe you will be ok. He is better off being somewhere you know than somewhere you don't.

Sweets101 · 09/02/2017 20:55

Not wanting him in the community is a very real consequence of his action though isn't it? People have petitioned, they haven't fire bombed his home yet I really don't see how any reasonable person can object to that? These people don't owe him anything.

SharkBastard · 09/02/2017 20:57

It's not a sentiment.

We should then rehouse these people amongst other offenders, because that's what happens often, which then normalises their desires and is counter active to their rehabilitation?

What should we do with sex offenders?

LoupGarou · 09/02/2017 20:58

I am sure he is aware that almost anyone in a community who knows that he is a paedophile will reject him socially. If he cannot cope with becoming a pariah without falling back to paedophilia then he is not fit to be out in society and needs to be contained, either in prison or in a secure mental health unit.

c3pu · 09/02/2017 20:59

For everyone clutching their pearls at the peado who's done their time and been released, this is just one that's been caught... For every one that's been convicted chances are there's at least 3 others nearby who are better at hiding it and have yet to be discovered. Those are the ones to worry about...

Original poster
NotInMyBackYard1 · 09/02/2017 21:00

I don't have any experience in this area at all - my assumption was that if he feels he's on the receiving end of some of the proposed repercussions I've seen mentioned - he may feel aggrieved, helpless, angry - and decide he may as well be guilty if he is perceived as such. I don't know, I'm no expert.

OP posts:
SemiNormal · 09/02/2017 21:04

Agree with everything SharkBastard has said. I too have studied the subject and from what I have gathered from my studies is that stigma towards peadophiles is counter productive to the prevention of child abuse for numerous reasons.

watchoutformybutt · 09/02/2017 21:07

There are sex offenders every where. Probably on your street. We can't be outraged and grab the pitchforks and start a petition for every single. I'd rather focus my time and energy on keeping my children safe and educating them on how to keep themselves safe. Knowing he's there puts them in a position of power. If he's moved on somewhere else he just becomes someone else's problem.

SittinginaSleazySnackBar · 09/02/2017 21:09

Why do you care so much about this peadophiles feelings ?!
What about his victims and their families.
I personally would not be able to live with myself if I had indecent thoughts about children.
He could of had a lot worse than a petition signed.
Thing is it's not as easy as just keeping your children safe, look at Vanessa George in that nursery. Bloody terrifying.

Sweets101 · 09/02/2017 21:09

What should we do with sex offenders?

The OP asked if people were BU to sign the petition as it sits wrong with her. And no, I don't think they are.

Wrt what should be done with sex offenders, I think it's been widely accepted recently that it needs some serious ongoing work as what has been done up until now has been shockingly poor and failed to protect people from significant harm. I don't know the answer and I don't pretend to but i'm not going to object to people who wish to sign a petition against a known paedophile living within their community. They have every right to.

Birdsgottaf1y · 09/02/2017 21:10

This case is slightly different because it's possessing child sex abuse/rape images, so he hasn't shown that he will be active.

His internet use will hopefully be well monitored.

The issue that people who are reasonable have is that the sentencing isn't enough for these crimes or the after effects/monitoring etc.

The other aspect is, should you be able to commit a crime of a sexual nature, were the victims are children and then just slot back into normal life? Is this a crime that people have the right to react strongly to, children's good MH being removed, being left with life changing injuries and in some cases being murdered?

The petition, will prevent that.

I also have worked with perpetrators.

YouHadMeAtCake · 09/02/2017 21:11

sweets is totally right there, both posts.

What does he expect? A welcome home party? Saying it would drive him to reoffend is ridiculous and you are making an excuse for him.He doesn't need to be driven by others. He's more than happy to do it obviously.

What should we do with them? I can think of lots of things, none of which will ever happen sadly, but all of them end up with the same fatal result.

They are utterly revolting creatures and should all be removed from life, no point jailing them for life as they cost too much to keep and serve no purpose .

Children need and deserve to be kept safe from them and if that requires their gruesome and painful death then so be it.

Blackhouse · 09/02/2017 21:14

Confused There are children in the Outer Hebrides, I'm from there, sorry I know that wasn't the point of your thread op but... Hmm

Sweets101 · 09/02/2017 21:16

from what I have gathered from my studies is that stigma towards peadophiles is counter productive to the prevention of child abuse for numerous reasons

Were these studies financed by the paedophile information exchange group?
Viewing Paedophilic pornographic material can not be 'unstigmatised' it's watching children being raped.

sum1killthepawpatrollers · 09/02/2017 21:16

what should be done with them? hang the bastards, simple as that. if they are proven to be guilty then it should be whole life sentence in a basic prison cell (no tvs, pool tables and other home comforts) or hanging/lethal injection.
yes i know this sounds harsh but it what i believe, even more so lately as an uncle has just been charged with child sex abuse on another young family member and there are quite a few more charges pending ( i have also seen proof of him admitting it )

user1478860582 · 09/02/2017 21:18

As a society we need to grow up about paedophilia. Some people are sexually attracted to children. Simple as that.

Whilst there needs to be severe punishment for sexual offences on kids, unless you are looking to lock these people up for the rest of their lives prison is of limited use. They go into jail and often end up on a wing with other sex offenders. So what do they spend their time talking about? It's not the price of fish or the future of Trumps presidency. They feed their fantasies.

I sincerely believe we have to have a more innovative approach. We need to be properly treating them. Not the sop they get in an underfunded criminal justice system. We need to have ways in which people who believe they have these urges can access help. We need to be pouring money into research and treatment. We actually need to have a sensible approach and grown up discussions.

Discussing how you want to rip them to pieces or whatever is a great way of beating your chest and looking all tough. Crack on, but it will do fuck all to keep our kids safe.

Whattodo23 · 09/02/2017 21:18

And this is why we need the death penalty. He will not change.