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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To report this to the police?

175 replies

Hardbackwriter · 09/08/2020 20:49

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hardbackwriter · 09/08/2020 21:12

Why are so many people asking me why I care about the safety of a paedophile? Why don't you care about the rule of law?

OP posts:
HJ372 · 09/08/2020 21:14

No. I don't care about the safety of child abusers in my area. Being as one round here got a more 18 months for disgusting crimes that ruin lives I hope he gets spotted when he is let out so everyone knows who he is and he's scared to leave his house.

HJ372 · 09/08/2020 21:15

Mere *

spiritedawai · 09/08/2020 21:15

To be fair OP, you are slightly over invested in checking on a paedophile's well-being. My first thought was that I might be concerned about his family or a case of mistaken identity (which does happen), not the actual paedophile...

Hairthrowaway · 09/08/2020 21:15

@Hardbackwriter

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.
It is a massive waste of police time. No crime has occurred yet! (Against him that is - not his victims!) Are there even concerning threats in the comments suggesting an attack is imminent? Unless that’s the case, nothing may even happen out of this, so you can’t report “just in case” when there isn’t evidence there’s a credible threat.
Lockheart · 09/08/2020 21:16

@HJ372

Why do you care about the safety of a pedo? I hope they get him and do their worst.
And if they have mistaken his identity?

If someone has lifted a picture of someone they don't like and is claiming they're a paedophile?

If they get the wrong address?

Even regardless of the above, everyone has the right to live in peace and safety. Even criminals, once they have served their sentence.

I would absolutely alert the police if I thought someone was at risk from harm.

Hairthrowaway · 09/08/2020 21:16

@Hardbackwriter

Why are so many people asking me why I care about the safety of a paedophile? Why don't you care about the rule of law?
Does the man you’re protecting so fiercely care about the law? He’s a convicted child sexual abuser after all
Original poster
Hardbackwriter · 09/08/2020 21:17

Anyway, I've reported it because I felt it was the right thing to do and it seemed to be the advice of the few people on the thread who aren't themselves frothing vigilantes who believe in mob justice. It might be a waste of police time but hopefully reading my report won't be much of one, and I didn't like the idea of reading later about a violent incident and thinking I should have done something.

OP posts:
Hepcat75 · 09/08/2020 21:18

I'm afraid, OP, this one is going to run and run, with ever more lurid descriptions of what the poster would do to a 'nonce' given a studded baseball bat, a squash court, and 'half a chance'. Get your post deleted and do what you think is best. I, too, believe in the rule of law and am firmly in your camp. But there's, like, two of us so honestly? Get out now.

Elderflower14 · 09/08/2020 21:19

I can remember a paediatrician being mistaken for a paedophile a few years ago and their windows were smashed!

HJ372 · 09/08/2020 21:21

If I knew a pedo was at risk of harm there's no way I'd be calling the police to protect them.

If you would... well... won't say what I think of you.

Original poster
Hardbackwriter · 09/08/2020 21:21

@Hepcat75

I'm afraid, OP, this one is going to run and run, with ever more lurid descriptions of what the poster would do to a 'nonce' given a studded baseball bat, a squash court, and 'half a chance'. Get your post deleted and do what you think is best. I, too, believe in the rule of law and am firmly in your camp. But there's, like, two of us so honestly? Get out now.
Thanks Hepcat - I've reported (if it is a waste of time I don't feel all that guilty because the same group is full of people who call 101 if they see someone suspicious - by which they mean not white - driving down the road slowly) and I think I'll hide this thread. I'm a mother, made it very clear that I thought the crimes were sickening but apparently I'm basically a paedophile myself because I think the rule of law is important and that people who have served their sentences don't actually deserve random mob violence.
OP posts:
Hepcat75 · 09/08/2020 21:26

@HJ372

If I knew a pedo was at risk of harm there's no way I'd be calling the police to protect them.

If you would... well... won't say what I think of you.

Awwww . . . now I'm gonna up all night wondering . . . Hmm
jessstan2 · 09/08/2020 21:27

@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.

What is bothering the op, apart from her dislike of vigilanteism, is that it might not be accurate. This could be an innocent person who has been subjected to gossip.
Mummytea24 · 09/08/2020 21:28

You did the right thing reporting it. Likelihood is he has family who know what's he done & where he lives. If he thinks he's been rumbled & people are out to get him he'll run and then no one will know where he is or what he is up to & therefore a far greater risk.

Eatyourbanana · 09/08/2020 21:29

Each to their own @Hardbackwriter, but I imagine you’re in the minority to feel concerned about seeing an act of violence & wishing you had done more to stop it against someone like that.

I’m not a frothing at the mouth vigilante, but ya know... hard to feel much sympathy towards a convicted pedophile.

Original poster
Hardbackwriter · 09/08/2020 21:32

@Eatyourbanana

Each to their own *@Hardbackwriter*, but I imagine you’re in the minority to feel concerned about seeing an act of violence & wishing you had done more to stop it against someone like that.

I’m not a frothing at the mouth vigilante, but ya know... hard to feel much sympathy towards a convicted pedophile.

I have this really weird thing where I don't think people committing crimes against other people who have committed crimes is the right way to run society. It's this personal quirk where I believe in things like jury trials, judges, legal standards of proof, etc rather than 'dave says this guy's a paedo so we'll go fuck him up'. As I say, clearly it's terribly strange.
OP posts:
BananaPop2020 · 09/08/2020 21:32

@Hardbackwriter you have done the right thing. Vigilante behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and makes it very challenging for Criminal Justice professionals to effectively manage these cases in the community, therefore upping the risk level.

Lockheart · 09/08/2020 21:32

@Eatyourbanana

Each to their own *@Hardbackwriter*, but I imagine you’re in the minority to feel concerned about seeing an act of violence & wishing you had done more to stop it against someone like that.

I’m not a frothing at the mouth vigilante, but ya know... hard to feel much sympathy towards a convicted pedophile.

There's a difference between feeling sympathy and feeling that vigilantism is bad.

Assuming the man in the OPs situation IS a convicted paedophile, then no I don't feel sympathy for him. I do think he has the right to live in peace and safety now he has served his sentence. That is not the same as sympathy.

HJ372 · 09/08/2020 21:33

I don't care what sentence a pedo has served- it's NEVER enough. If you don't agree... again, I won't say what I think of you.

HJ372 · 09/08/2020 21:35

A convicted pedi who has served their shitty sentence does NOT deserve to live in peace.

HJ372 · 09/08/2020 21:35

Pedo*

Lockheart · 09/08/2020 21:35

@HJ372

A convicted pedi who has served their shitty sentence does NOT deserve to live in peace.
That's not up to you. What you think doesn't matter.

What matters is the law.

BananaPop2020 · 09/08/2020 21:38

@HJ372 please, feel free to carry on “not saying” what you think about people. Irrespective of your view, those who have served their sentences ARE free to live in peace.

Thefaceofboe · 09/08/2020 21:39

Haha Christ