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AIBU?

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Original poster

To hate the Police doing this.

55 replies

Serin · 16/05/2019 19:33

The police in my area are very active on Facebook and frequently post mugshots of people they have convicted.
These are often of clearly vulnerable people ie with really poor dental care, acne or disabilities. The photos invariably attract the most awful comments from the public. Always based around appearances.
Sometimes the "convicts" are little more than kids themselves and I'm guessing they would benefit more from help/rehab than ridicule.
I am honestly starting to wonder if the police are doing this for their own amusement, but in doing so I think they are guilty of spreading a nasty and bullying culture.

OP posts:
SpecterLitt · 16/05/2019 20:17

The police is not at fault for what the public comment, they put out these photos and details asking for the public's help, they do not do it with malicious intent in hope these criminals are mocked, they just want them to be caught. This is an old age practice and social media has in fact helped make it easier for forces to find those they're looking for.

I find comments usually do get monitored, but again this depends on the set-up and if there's an active person or people who are managing social media solely. Comments can slip through even the most strictly monitored page as all it takes is one screenshot and any person can start their own thread and commentary.

Original poster
Serin · 16/05/2019 20:22

Spectre, I am not referring to photos of wanted people, but ones who have already been convicted.
I think our local force really does put them up maliciously to incite mockery.

OP posts:
Passthecherrycoke · 16/05/2019 20:30

“So posters will be happy if no photos are ever published then? Of sex offenders, house breakers etc?”

Nobody has said the photos should stop, just that the comments should be deleted/ disabled when they are inappropriate.

Alll organisations do this on their social media pages, it’s completely normal and professional.

UnicornBrexit · 16/05/2019 20:32

Have you complained that you want to see better looking criminals?

The majority are now publishing, as I said the local paper has screeds of mugshots of those convicted and what it likes to call 'Wanted Wednesday'. My beat bobbies page don't do this but the larger country force does.

SuziQ10 · 16/05/2019 20:41

Depends on the alleged offence.
If it's something that the public should be aware of, where they might be impacted upon by mixing with this person then maybe the public have a right to know.

And definitely once they've been proven guilty! Since custodial sentences are a joke and criminals serve barely any time inside, members of the community should absolutely know who not to get involved with. What are the success rates of supposed rehabilitation. Low, I should expect. And yes that's a problem but while it's a problem I'd rather know the names and faces of offenders in my area.

More sympathy to victims of crime.

Aventurine · 16/05/2019 20:42

I agree with you op. I've realised that our local force have stopped doing this but when they used to they posted a picture of a man crying. There was no need to take the photo while he was crying. It felt like they were thinking how they could raise a laugh on facebook. People did comment negatively about them doing it at the time.

thetwinkletoescollective · 16/05/2019 20:50

I think that is a real problem with it. Its not coming from a place of wanting to 'protect the public'. It comes from a place of wanting to humiliate people, 'teach them a lesson', and reinforce how superior we are for not being like them. Its the modern day stocks.

Peace is based on people respecting mutually agreed social norms. When these are violated of course there should be consequences. However there also should be proper processes for those consequences through the justice system. This ridiculing of people is not part of the proper process.

Where the pictures are being circulated with a real intention to protect and inform the public - this should be done with the highest levels of professionalism and without a trace of 'rough justice'.

holibab · 16/05/2019 20:52

You do the crime you pay the price I'm afraid.

YouJustDoYou · 16/05/2019 20:54

Try getting mugged by one of them. Or having your 85 year old grandmother have her collarbone shattered by one of the fuckers when they shove her over for her handbag for drugs. I have. Zero. Fucking Sympathy.

YouJustDoYou · 16/05/2019 20:55

There was no need to take the photo while he was crying

They're crying because they were FUCKING CAUGHT. This hypocritical sympathy makes me so utterly furious.

Passthecherrycoke · 16/05/2019 20:56

These posts aren’t about hurting criminals feelings or having sympathy for them. They’re about the professionalism of the police service in publishing comments which are cruel and add no value to crime solving or locating said suspects

YouJustDoYou · 16/05/2019 20:57

I think our local force really does put them up maliciously to incite mockery

Ours puts them up to show they are doing their actual job and putting this fuckers away (they list the crimes these people commit along with their mugshot - "sexual assault", "Mugging", "assault", "stabbing" etc). As I said. No sympathy.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 16/05/2019 20:59

I don't give a shit of criminals are mocked on FB. If they're that worried about what people think/say then they shouldn't commit a crime in the first place.

thetwinkletoescollective · 16/05/2019 21:09

It's also not about whether they are worried or not..they have already shown a deep disregard for others and themselves in the committing of the crime.

It's about what sort of society to we want to be part of and participate in? We (Us, society) who are not in the thick of the emotionalism of terrible events but who are able to stand at a distance and decide does this disregard of them make us the same as them? Because I think it does to a lesser extent.

Chardonnaydays · 16/05/2019 21:10

Really??!! Is this genuine.
Don't post pictures of that bloke who attacked the old woman because he's got bad teeth, who cares if he's still a threat to the community we must take this criminals feelings Into account

Original poster
Serin · 16/05/2019 21:53

Yeah its genuine Chardonnay.
I absolutely think criminals need punishing, I just think that is best done through the courts rather than encouraging people to mock each other. We teach kids not to bully then act exactly that way ourselves.
There was a lad on the other night who had not "hurt" anyone but who was in possession of class A drugs. He had an eye condition and the comments were awful, really really disablist.
Also see racism quite regularly.
There are also frequently pictures of missing kids on their websites with comments like "looks like a prostitute" "tart" etc.

OP posts:
thetwinkletoescollective · 16/05/2019 21:56

Empathy is not endorsement.

SuziQ10 · 16/05/2019 21:59

I absolutely think criminals need punishing, I just think that is best done through the courts

That's the problem though. They don't get fair punishment. Court sentences are short and criminals often get let out on a suspended sentence / serve only half. It's frustrating for the police, for the victim and for the wider community. Who again have to live beside un-reformed (barely punishes) criminals.

neverhadanymarblestolose · 16/05/2019 22:23

Is it Cheshire police? The guy that walked into a pub with a machete?

TheBigFatMermaid · 16/05/2019 22:36

Ours post cars, cars being taken away due to no tax insurance or MOT, they post reports of chases for said cars.

I think we actually only have crimes involving cars in our area (sarcasm emoji).

Aventurine · 16/05/2019 22:46

They're crying because they were FUCKING CAUGHT. This hypocritical sympathy makes me so utterly furious
If someone having a different opinion to you upsets you that much, maybe post in the Daily Mail comments instead where you'd be among people with the same opinion as you. You'd be less riled up that way.

Nat6999 · 16/05/2019 22:53

A woman was attacked & raped near me earlier this week, an 18 year old has been arrested & charged with the offence. The police have named him & stated where he lives, I'm not defending him but by naming him & giving out where he lives, surely they are making his family vulnerable to attacks? His family haven't committed the offence & what if he is found not guilty when the case comes to trial?

Manclife1 · 17/05/2019 12:40

@Nat6999 that information is publicly available and usually published in the local papers anyway. So what’s the issue?

Hithere12 · 17/05/2019 12:42

Wow do you have a link? I want to comment and tell them how vile they’re being (the Police I mean)

Hithere12 · 17/05/2019 12:47

You do the crime you pay the price I'm afraid

Lol my ex boyfriend was jumped by three thugs years ago when he was alone, he defended himself and one ended up needing serious eye surgery. Because THEY went to the Police first my ex ended up being arrested and was in prison for three weeks. Of course when it went to court he was let off as it was self defence but he was the one arrested at first and would have been his face plastered all over this Facebook page.

The police take the side of whoever reports the crime first is what I’ve learnt.