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?

They are projects for arrogant tools looking for glory.
Generally worshipped by the kind of right wingers who share Tommy Robinson posts on social media.
They take up police time, are very problematic and jeopardise cases so that victims end up unable to get justice.

"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"

Until someone makes an accusation against you and then suddenly due process won't be so bad after all, will it?

Vigilante justice never works and it can mean the police have trouble prosecuting they actual offender due to lack of evidence

There is also the problem they could be targeting the wrong person

I'm thankful for those groups. at least 10 paedophiles have been shown to live local. without the groups we would not have known. the council give them houses near primary schools in my area. As parents we NEED to know.

My knee jerk response is that pedophiles deserve the death penalty

My considered opinion is that the death penalty is a bad thing and does not belong in a modern liberal society

I like the idea of them to an extent. However I don't buy all the "your being streamed live on Facebook for your own safety". Do what you have to do, catch them out and let the police deal with it but the live streaming is unnecessary (yes I'm a hypocrite as I do watch them).

I have watched a some where's there's a few team members who act professional however the others are standing around throwing abuse which riles up the audience. I watched one a couple of weeks ago where the guy was hiding in his house and the hunter went round the back door chapping and shouting until he appeared at the window with a knife. She then continued to shout and provoke him and he came running out with the knife all the while she's shouting how he doesn't scare her (which he clearly did). In no way am I condoning him but she put herself in a very dangerous situation by continuing to abuse a crazy knife man imo.

I don't like them. In theory they are a good idea, but I don't like the live streaming aspect - what if they get the wrong person? That person's life could be ruined, not to mention their families'. It's all a bit too vigilante mob for my liking.

Anyone remember the paediatrician who was so badly injured he couldn't work again thanks to a group of vigilantes too thick to know the difference between a paedophile and a paediatrician?

That is not what actually happened. It was a female junior doctor and she had the word "paedo" painted on her house. No-one was injured.

And it should never be done at the home for the sake of their families. I removed one where the guy was exposed at his door, wife at work, kids at school. All I could of was how they'd be sitting getting on with their day one minute and the next being shown the video

@ShoppingList123 can you remember the name of the group or the person they stung? Very interested in watching the one you've mentioned. I'm really shocked that anybody won would stick around and face a knife man. Brave but silly woman

BTW I completely disagree with any form of vigilante group, especially this kind

I've name changed for this.

The husband of an ex colleague of mine was caught by one of these groups. He was going to meet up with what he thought was a 13 year old boy to have sex with him, he was found with a camera and a number of sex toys when he was arrested.
The messages were published and the things he said to this 'child' were obscene even after the 'child' repeatedly told him he was only 13 and was only looking to make friends he continued sending him videos and pictures of himself performing sex acts on himself, it went to court and they also found 100s of images of child and animal pornography on his computer.

He was spared a custodial sentence because his wife and family stood by him but he is now on the sex offenders register and lost his managerial job at a very big supermarket.

Sorry that should say remember not removed.

MumMumMumm will PM you

I'm not saying I do or don't agree with these groups, I see both sides, but I sure am glad they exposed him.

@Hello2019 I was reading that and thinking 'his poor wife' until I reached the part where you said she stood by him.

I don't understand how anybody could stand by the father of their children/husband after they're found guilty for something like that. I'd never be able to look at him again

"To ask what you think about paedophile hunting groups?"

Everyone needs a hobby. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Hello2019
Just dreadful
How is it that the wife and family managed to stop a dangerous predator from being imprisoned?

If my OH was caught doing anything of the sort, and was genuinely guilty of it, he'd have to go immediately. I wouldn't be able to trust him around the children, nor would I feel comfortable with him using the internet ever again, i couldn't share a bed with him or want to touch him anymore. I don't see why anybody would voluntarily stay in such a twisted situation. I'd rather leave with my DC than expose them to anybody with those types of tendencies.

My only reservations are that, they could get innocent people, and that those in them, might not be doing it for the right reasons.

hello Having his family behind him won’t have stopped him being imprisoned. First offenders very often aren’t jailed.

I don’t think any of the offenders who I have reported for that offence have been jailed.

On another note, I watched one video where the hunters called themselves “child protection officers”. At least be honest with who you are.

I don’t doubt that some of these people organising “stings” have good intentions but some are mostly likely just thugs wanting to have an excuse to be violent and vindictive. I am not in the least bit surprised that several have previous for domestic violence. This sort of thing is right up my abusive ex’s alley.

I don’t like them all. I can understand people at the receiving end of child sex abuse wanting revenge. But they’re dangerous. Almost as bad as the paedophiles themselves.

@MumMumMumm I know, she was such a lovely and strong woman when I knew her well. When the video was all over Facebook I was devastated for her.
He plead guilty and admitted everything on the video and in court but she publicly defended him and said he was 'stitched up' by the group.

They had not long been married (maybe 2 years) when it all happened and she was desperate for a baby. They're still married. According to her Facebook (which is now very restricted content) they still live locally, about 30mins from where they lived and 45mins from where he was caught.

I don't know how I feel about it all but I'm glad I know who he really is now. I know these groups can do a lot of damage but they can also do a lot of good for the community. I'm torn!

I work in law (not UK) and have seen several trials collapse because these investigations and "arrests" haven't followed the law. We've known they are guilty, but the technicalities of the law are such that amateurs need to steer clear.

Can't get past the fact they all, every single one of them, do it solely for the publicity kicks and hero labels.

If they really wanted to help fight this abhorrent crime there is plenty they could do with the support of the community, police and recognised organisations.