Am I being too precious? *trigger?*

[KrayKray00]

I work in a court with vulnerable victims and witnesses. I have heard some of the most horrendous crimes you could imagine.

Anyway I am not very high up in my role. I have a team leader and a line manger and any desicions i make has to go through them.

Today I was in our witness/victim room and noticed about 20 magazines piled on the table in the middle of the room. These are “Chat”, “Real People” magazines which have awful titles of stories in them such as rape, murder, abuse.

I mentioned to my team leader I don’t really think they are appropriate for the room and she told me to “not be so silly” and “stop over thinking things”.

But I can’t help but wonder if I was in there for a certain cases I wouldn’t want to see these magazines on show?

If that makes any sense at all.

Ok they don’t have to pick them up to read but even the headings are quite detailed. I even said why don’t we put them in a box rather than in the middle of the table in full view.

Am I being over the top?

Another one saying your were not being U.

Yanbu totally inappropriate
I’d subtly sourced something neutral and replace them with those, and if anyone asks say sorry oh someone spilt a drink on the mags so they had to be binned and replaced!

The magazines are donated. Usually by other people who work in the building or volunteers. I have tried to rearrange them (seeing as I can’t throw them) so there are more neutral ones on top (gardening/homes).

But I think they have no place in a witness room. Only once I have seen someone pick them up and it was so we could do a crossword to take her mind off the day ahead.

How come you can't throw them? If you start doing it slowly and replacing them with better material would anyone really notice?

Maybe wait a bit until the fact that you mentioned it dies down and then start.

I started as a volunteer and I managed to get a paid role, but anything/everything I do has to be passed by someone higher than me, as I work with vulnerable people.

I did take a few away today because I was working with a child (via video link) and even though they could not fully read the magazine title their Mum was there who could. Which triggered me to say enough is enough and they are not in the right place.

I'll go against the grain, as someone who works in the justice system but was abused as a child and involved in an attempted murder case where the 'victim' (I don't really identify with the word) was me. I think for some people feeling vulnerable or nervous in a courtroom scenario, a word on the front of a magazine won't even register, or they just wouldn't be fazed as it is real life after all, even though the stories being read as entertainment is morbid, and they are exploitative.
However!! You are very thoughtful and no harm can come from phasing out these magazines and replacing them with different ones.

I’d be tempted to make most of them disappear, one at a time, then bury the last few at the bottom of the pile.

You are right, some of them have horrid titles and headlines on the front page. Can you get a second opinion from someone else? The other person sounds...odd!

I think you’re right in principle, but Dyu think people in this situation even motice the magazines? Not sure I would?

I absolutely agree with you op.

You should burn those dreadful magazines OP. In fact I think you should snatch them out of the hands of someone and toss them onto the bonfire even if she is only doing the crossword. It might cost you your job but that is a small price to pay.