Everyone should have the right to feel safe?

[moodolph]

Feeling sad today as I drove through my nearest village.

I grew up there, it's friendly, mix of social and private housing. Small school, one shop, one pub, one butcher. Very rural.

The local authority has rehoused a sex offender (released from prison) in a cluster of housing opposite the school.

Today the house is surrounded by builders who seem to be putting up a six foot fence.

The house itself has been sprayed with graffiti, I won't repeat what it says.

Every single week since he was out there, every window on the property has been smashed in. They are now boarded in and the council are refusing to repair them again. Now they are being set on fire (the boards) on a weekly basis.

I know from living nearby that the effect of this damage is causing great fear and alarm to elderly, vulnerable and young neighbours. They are being woken by shattering glass, screaming, and now fire.

I understand people's fears, I understand he is a dangerous individual. However, he is on licence and the police check him regularly regardless.

It's that feeling of unease that the authority have chosen for whatever reason to place him there yet the wider impact of those who are objecting is causing real upset and fear.

I don't know who is doing it, I understand why they might be, but there is no thought for the neighbours.

Having worked in the court systems often the most dangerous offenders are those who we do not know about, not those under surveillance.

I suppose I just feel that whilst I know way agree with him being in the location he is, aibu to think his neighbours are paying a very high price for these vigilante type behaviours?

Why the fuck would the house him in a village right by a school.

He should never have been put near a school

You are right vigilantes are appalling, however I wonder if he’s really a sex offender. Would the local authority house a sex offender near a school ?

I loathe vigilantes, they always do more harm than good and this is a classic case. The whole lot of them should be locked up for at least a couple of nights. Vigilantes are enjoying themselves, they are not interested in protecting anyone else.

OP, it is quite likely that this man is someone regarded as low-risk by the probation service. It may all be absolute bullshit, and he's not even an ex-prisoner, just someone who looks or behaves a bit strangely, and therefore vicious morons have started spreading dangerous rumours.
If you live in the area, could you do a little research and see if you can find out the facts? Then (especially if the truth is that this man poses no risk to anyone) spread them as widely as you can? If not, you could at least, in conversation, repeat what you have said here: that the violence and disruption is upsetting for the other people in the area and it needs to stop.

Thanks for thoughts.

Ok so we are rural. I'm rubbish at distances. So small cluster of houses, twelve say. His at back in corner, semi detached. Looking from the front of his garden, out of cluster, across road is school. It has hedges. That's the side of the school, but it's still the school. Mu understanding is he is not allowed to enter its boundary.

His case was well reported, people know who he is.

There was a community meeting and I did go. The police said that they met with him twice weekly minimum, no internet access, and no unsupervised contact with children.

They have said they will not move him.

I'm so sad for one lady in particular. She has lived in that house since she was born, she is eighty odd, widowed. She is scared, and that makes me angry.

The local authority seems to be inviting vigilantes by doing this?

I imagine there's almost nowhere to house sex offenders that isn't near a school. The people attacking his property are being selfish because it must be awful for the neighbours and no one is made safer by it.

Yes I think that's the thing with the school. The park runs along the village green end. Community hall is also surrounded by houses.

I don't know what the answer is, but it seems so sad.

Where do you house offenders? Nobody wants to be next to them but the vigilantes are causing more upset at this moment. Police not interested clearly as its every weekend and wouldn't be that hard to stop I shouldn't think.