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?

Jesus Christ... what a stupid thing to say!!!

In general, I've been quite shocked by this thread - I definitely thought beforehand that the general level of discourse on MN was a lot more intelligent and thoughtful than on my local FB page, but apparently not

Not anymore.

I've read this thread with my mouth hanging open. It's just become a race to the bottom; who can prove they hate "nonces" more than the next person. Quite eye opening. Between this and the horrifying thread about the woman who's husband looked whilst she was giving birth, I wonder what has happened to this place, I really do.

Was that aimed at me alphabetsoup1980? If so, why do you think what I said is stupid?

I'd call 101. I obvs don't think pedophiles are good people. But I think taking the law into your own hands is dangerous and a slippery slope for justice.

@SquashedSpring

Accusations of peadophilia are often used to justify vigilante attacks against those with disabilities, particularly autism and learning difficulties. People are hounded from their homes or even murdered.

Bijan Ebrahim, as mentioned above.

Steven Hoskin, forced to sign a false confession, tortured, dragged around on a dog lead and thrown to his death over a railway viaduct.

Keith Philpott, tortured for several hours and disembowled.

This is where vigilantism leads.

Your links show exactly the types that lead these vigilante mobs. Usually pretty scummy themselves

Nope don't report it
I personally believe there needs to be a proper, accessible, register for these type of people, well actually I would rather they remained in prison permanently.
Deserves everything coming to him.

@SquashedSpring

Accusations of peadophilia are often used to justify vigilante attacks against those with disabilities, particularly autism and learning difficulties. People are hounded from their homes or even murdered.

Bijan Ebrahim, as mentioned above.

Steven Hoskin, forced to sign a false confession, tortured, dragged around on a dog lead and thrown to his death over a railway viaduct.

Keith Philpott, tortured for several hours and disembowled.

This is where vigilantism leads.

Yeah, that's one reason why this thread makes me uneasy. I'm autistic. Not severely, I can live independently etc., but reading about autistic men being killed because some twat thinks 'oh he's a bit weird, he might be a paedophile' puts the shivers up me. There but for the grace of G-d.

@LadyofTheManners

Nope don't report it I personally believe there needs to be a proper, accessible, register for these type of people, well actually I would rather they remained in prison permanently. Deserves everything coming to him.

There aren't public records particularly because of vigilante types justice. Blame them.

Everything? Absolutely everything? Even if, considering it's all based on a 8 yo mug shot, of a man with a generic face, in a different town and with a different name,so it's very likely that the man being "outed" is completely innocent?

@LadyofTheManners this post is exactly WHY there is not an accessible register. It is completely evident that some people just could not be trusted with that type of information.

Minnette Walters-Acid Row.

There's something profoundly disturbing about these "paedo hunter" groups imo. I mean what even semi-normal adult decides the best way to "protect the children" is to spend their nights posing as young children and goading potential paedophiles in to sending explicit messages??

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/vigilante-mob-attacks-home-of-paediatrician-710864.html

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/vigilante-mob-attacks-home-of-paediatrician-710864.html

I think some people on this thread are hard of thinking. Vigilantism is not wise, seldom justified and quite often ends up with innocent victims being caught up/ mistaken identity. On the whole Vigilantism is just hooliganism/thiggishness dressed up to look more palatable.

I once treated a patient who had been harassed for weeks, had his property damaged and intimidated in his own home. Before being severely assaulted (requiring surgery) and left utterly terrified. His crime? Looking vaguely like someone that some people on Facebook identified as a convicted paedophile who allegedly lived in the area. That man’s life was devastated by vigilantism. So, I think people do need to stop abd think before they jump on a “get the nonce” bandwagon and excuse it.

@PhilSwagielka I really appreciate your contributions to the thread. I was just wondering how wise it was to discuss the case of a landlord wrongly accused of murder, which you are familiar with through working for the firm that represented him. I'm by no means a news junkie, but I immediately knew who you meant. No snarkiness intended, just wanted to flag it's not quite as unrecognisable a story as you may have thought

I don't work for that firm anymore and haven't for a long time, but if mods want to delete that post, feel free. And yes, it was a major story and we were briefed how to deal with the press (as was always the case when one of our clients was in the press, it happened a few times).

OK I haven't reported it. Just didn't want you to get into trouble. I'm always paranoid I'll accidentally break some social media rules set by my employer...

[quote Letmegetthisrightasawoman]@PhilSwagielka I really appreciate your contributions to the thread. I was just wondering how wise it was to discuss the case of a landlord wrongly accused of murder, which you are familiar with through working for the firm that represented him. I'm by no means a news junkie, but I immediately knew who you meant. No snarkiness intended, just wanted to flag it's not quite as unrecognisable a story as you may have thought[/quote]
I can't see that Phil has said anything that wasn't either in the press or in the excellent TV dramatisation of the case in question.

If the authorities don't, can't or won't keep children and other vulnerable people safe from these predators I can't see any other options than vigilantes.

Yes report it. Police shut this down pretty swiftly in my area

@Shewhomustgowithoutname

If the authorities don't, can't or won't keep children and other vulnerable people safe from these predators I can't see any other options than vigilantes.

There is no evidence that this man is any of these things. Do you still think it's ok?

Zombie 🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️

Why do ylou care. Nothing illegals happened and you don't even live there anymore. You seem desperate to get involved and cause some drama. Bet you would feel different if you lived in the area still.

Drat just seen the zombie status.