To ask what you think about paedophile hunting groups?

[MumMumMumm]

Since the channel 4 Stinson Hunter documentary in 2015(?) It's everywhere isn't it. Social media is full of copycat groups who pose online as child decoys and track down suspected sex offenders, some of the group's are well organised and relatively 'professional' but some not so much.

Overall I do think it's good that people are taking a stand against potential SA, but I can't help but feel sorry for the wives/families of those who get 'stung' as the videos are live streamed to the thousands before the police have even had chance to look at the evidence.

Thoughts?

I'm against this. Leave it to police or gather information and pass it on to police. DO NOT take the law in to your own hands and risk jeopardising a case against the alleged criminal. And I say alleged because that is how our country works, with a court of law to decide guilt, not some random vigilante blokes

Just ask the police what they think about it and you will get your answer. There are people just looking for an excuse/justification and this is an easy one. They can and do get it wrong

I don't think they really gives shit a about people being potential child sex offenders I think they like the drama and feeling important,otherwise why would they share it on social media ,potentially jeopardizing court cases?

My son was groomed by one. Lock them up utter bastards.
My ds was never touched.
I hate to think what could have happened had ds not had me and DD.

I think the majority of it do it because they themselves get a kick out of it.

Some seedy little man texting sexual messages whilst pretending to be a child. Just because they're in some self.proclaimed vigilante group doesn't.make.it any less weird and twisted.

At least when professional officers do it they have checks and balances in place to keep an eye on what's said. The police undercover officers will likely have access to therapists, the vigilantes won't.

I think the majority of it do it because they themselves get a kick out of it.

This with bells on. A group fairly local to me has dreadful creeps in it. 2 have convictions for domestic violence. I think some get their kicks from pretending to be teenage girls. It's disquieting.

I do wonder if they ever end up being the 'Groomer'. When I was about 11/12 I always lied about my age online as I thought it made me sound cool and sophisticated. What would happen in this case?

Equally this was way before understanding of the Internet was as today, parents didn't really understand the risks

I think paedophiles should be given the death sentence, they don't deserve any rights what so ever and I know for a fact if anything happened to my DC or DN I would be sent to jail for murder. Flame away

I was against them until they managed to trap one in my local area that we had all suspected for a long time and the police did nothing about.

There are some groups which just like going with the drama. but there are some out there who do just want to protect children. Our local police did nothing despite the number of concerns raised whereas this group went, got evidence and cornered him. He's now rotting inside away from our children.

whatweretheythinking, I'll bite. I think a person is a sad excuse for a parent if they are so selfish that they put their desire for revenge above ensuring they are there to give their child all the support and assistance they want or need to survive the trauma of being sexually abused.

I agree with most, I also think that there is very much a risk of these groups stopping proper justice taking place as it will make the job of the police so much harder.

Pitchfork wielding vigilanty groups are rarely a good thing!

That's not really the point of the thread though whatwhere I don't think anybody condense reaction of paedophiles, but would you like them to get not be brought to justice, because their court case was jeopardized because of the actions of these stinger groups?

Condones the actions of paedophiles*

Sometimes those who are overly invested have had their own issues or are fighting their own demons. Which might prejudice a case.
Leave it to the professionals and give any any evidence to them.

Totally depends on the group. If they carefully gather evidence which is then handed to the police and leads to a dangerous individual being detained, I can see the benefit. DH is a police officer and they are so under-staffed nowadays that they need all the help they can get! Of course there are huge risks that go along with those groups though - trampling over evidence, disrupting families, accusing the wrong person etc.

I’m a police officer and have to deal with these stings. I don’t agree with them.

I would understand if they brought their “evidence “ to the police but I don’t agree with the live streaming then being unco operative when the police need statements, seize phones etc.

I will treat them with respect but I don’t agree with their actions. I know of people with learning difficulties who have been “outed” and whose families have them been subjected to violence from vigilantes.

I think some hunting groups do make a mockery of the cause they're trying to raise awareness about.

There was one called internet interceptors where the spokeswoman of the group would turn up to confront the men with an elf on the shelf toy and a game they called 'nonce bingo'

I agree with the comments saying some get a kick out of it, I have always found it strange when non police have posed as a child and have seeked sexual conversations.

They are often nearly as creepy and abusive as the paedophiles they are trying to expose, no regard for peoples families either.

Pitchfork wielding vigilanty groups are rarely a good thing

This with bells on

Im a 110% with Whatwere on this one.

I know of people with learning difficulties who have been “outed” and whose families have them been subjected to violence from vigilantes.

That is very worrying and the sort of thing I'd be apprehensive about with vigilante groups.

The idea itself is a good one. The way its executed sometimes isn't correct and doesn't help at all.

I think it would be better if these groups worked with the police and had to be enforced to an extent. Still keep them as voluntary, but they need to have background checks done before being hired. Then rather than the group meeting the paedo, the police does and they have all of the evidence.

That would work better. But some are way too over the top.

I don't like them. I'm a survivor of sexual abuse and I just think there's something weird about these adults pretending to be children. Maybe it would feel different if these groups cooperated with the police and didn't jeopardise the chances of these people being charged, but I think a lot of them are in it for their own weird power trip/sense of revenge/disgusting sexual proclivities.

Dreadful! I do not believe in vigilante groups, apart from anything else they could get it wrong.

It's just something that appeals to the vicious hunter element in some people's make up.

The police don't like paedophiles, leave it to them to deal with. Co-operate with them if you have information but don't get obsessed with finding the perps yourself. It's an unhealthy obsession.