To report this to the police?

[Hardbackwriter]

Today I happened to click on the neighborhood FB place for where I used to live until a few weeks ago (which is a not very nice/slightly rough area - this may or may not be relevant). The top post, with many comments and 'angry face' reactions is someone saying that someone living in the area is a convicted paedophile. In the comments someone has included a screenshot of a news story relating to his conviction (the crimes involved are obviously sickening), his name, his approximate address and his photo. While obviously not in any way condoning what he has done, this has really worried me - the comments make me think there's a pretty high chance of people taking vigilante action, though no one actually goes as far as saying they will do this. I went to report it through the police online reporting system and this made me doubt myself, though - it asks a lot about the crime, the victim, etc and I don't think I have witnessed a crime or a victim, more a potential one, but if you click 'no' to 'have you witnessed or been victim to a crime' it redirects you out of the reporting system. AIBU to think this is a matter that is worth reporting?

What can they do if no one has made any specific threats?

The alleged nonce will need to call the police himself like anyone else would if they need to

Check on his wellbeing? Let him know that this is being widely circulated? Do you really not think this is a cause for concern?

I'd report it. I despise vigilantism.

My other concern is that the photo is a photo of a totally unremarkable looking man in his sixties with glasses; it's the sort of picture that looks like a lot of people so mistaken identity seems quite likely. Maybe I should report it to Facebook to get it taken down as well/instead?

Pick up the phone and call them. Not 999 obviously.

The issue with these situations is that in amongst the “alleged nonce” there are often completely innocent families living who have to be taken from their homes because randoms are standing outside with bricks and threatening to torch the place.

This happened in my local area - the chap had 100% down awful things. But he wasn’t even home when people started chucking bricks. His innocent wife and small children were though. As were the family in the flat down below. All of them had to be removed from their own homes through terrifying mobs. Where was the concern for children there?

No don't report it.

No crime has been committed? Not even a threat has been made by the sound of it. The police won’t be able to do anything. I find it quite reasonable for people to raise awareness of a convicted predator in the community, and as a parent I would want to know. If someone does commit a crime against him then that’s when the police would get involved.

Maybe ring them rather than online if it isn't set up to report this type of issue.

It's not vigilantism at this stage just people expressing how much they dislike adults raping and/or sexually assaulting children. But yeah let's hope he is ok ...

No harm in calling 101 for advice.

It's worth noting that there are reams and reams of internet articles detailing incidents whereby men are beaten or even killed having been misidentified as 'nonces' principally because these "Crusaders for the Kiddies" are often profoundly stupid mouth-breathers.

His welfare. Wtf?

Hopefully they'll get hold of him.

@AlphabetABC

Hmm .... Hardbackwriter ... work of fiction.

It's a name I use because I am a writer, but this is very much real! You can advance search me to check details if you want (e.g., I have recently moved house, I am a regular poster)

@Babymamaroon

Did he give one fuck about the wellbeing of any of the children he abused (directly or indirectly)?

Unless you're comfortable with his crimes, why do you care so very much as to start a thread on a forum and go to the police for him?

Sounds a little paedo-apologist imo.

It's more the man's family, if he has any that I'd be concerned about, but then I will happily admit that I binge watch to catch a predator sometimes so I'm massively hypocritical on this post!

I'm also quite shocked that I've been accused of being a 'paedo apologist' for thinking that vigilantism is bad and that sharing this on a Facebook group is really irresponsible

Sorry well no I’m not sorry actually, but I couldn’t get worked up or worried about a Paedo. My concern are the kids he’s harmed or intended to harm.
Perhaps if they were locked up and not in the community around children people may not be so angry.

@spiritedawai good point but surely a quick google would tell you whether there's any truth in the FB post?

My only question is whether it's an overreaction/a waste of police time to report it at this point. I am 100% confident that vigilante action is both wrong and illegal so that wasn't really my question, thanks.

Yeah, sorry but I’m struggling to understand why you care. People quite rightly get very angry about these people living on their doorsteps without any knowledge of it.

No crime has been committed, if he is targeted that’s up to him to report.

[quote Babymamaroon]@spiritedawai good point but surely a quick google would tell you whether there's any truth in the FB post?[/quote]
True. To be honest I'm the sort of person who would happily sit and read all the comments on a post like that and would then just scroll on. No harm in getting advice from 101 but can't imagine there would be much point. I certainly wouldn't.

To be fair as well, I've just looked on my local police force Facebook page and even they have posted a mug shot of a paedophile who committed crimes in my area.

Why do you care about the safety of a pedo? I hope they get him and do their worst.

It's a concern if it's mistaken identity, or the wrong address being shared.

I'd want to know if there was a nonce living near me and my children as well. I don't believe they should be released back into society.