Is this guy a peado or am I being paranoid?

[purpledaze24]

I take my 3 yo DS to our local play park around 3 mornings a week. Often when we’re there there’s this man there sitting on a bench with his dog, but never with a child, he’s always just with the dog. The play park isn’t enclosed from the wider park so he didn’t stand out that much at first but the last few times I’ve seen him he seems to be taking pictures with his phone of the kids playing. He’s pretty blatant about it, not trying to hide it. He also has an attachment on his phone, which looks like it’s over the camera lens. I’ve never got close enough to properly inspect it but it looks like a small black square over the lens and sticking up at the top of the phone. I’m wondering if this could be a zoom…he looks very normal (not that that means anything I know), early 30s, good-looking, well-dressed. I’ve never seen anyone challenge him - maybe because he’s so blatant about it & the park is often busy & people probably assume he has a child playing who he’s taking pictures of. He definitely doesn’t btw. I’ve seen him leave and arrive before and it’s always just him and the dog. I know that, technically he’s not breaking any laws. Anyone can takes pictures of anyone in a public place but he’s giving me the creeps. I cannot think of any possible reason why he’d so regularly be taking photos of random children other than that he’s a peadophile. There’s also nothing else he could be taking pics of, his dog is by his side. AIBU? What should I do? I don’t feel comfortable challenging him

You assume all people walking their dog alone in a park, sitting on a bench and possessing a phone are "pedos"? The police must be very busy in your area. I saw at least 30 of them just this morning when I was walking my dog alone in possession of a phone.

Is anyone ever going learn how to spell it?

No, but I'd assume someone sat in a kids park holding what looks to be camera equipment could be a pedo - (which is the correct spelling??) - and I'd warn the authorities

I would log it with the police. Bet he isn't even allowed near dc...
Imo.

I’d be worried too OP
I suspect community policing might be best.

Not saying this is right or acceptable but it isn't an offence to take photos of people/children in a public place. In Scotland anyway.

The other day I was in a playpark with DD, we were playing hide and seek. I had found an excellent hiding spot behind some bushes and a tree. It was so much fun because when she came near I could duck down further behind the bush, and when she was far away, I could stand up and watch her through thee tree branches. Best hiding spot ever, it took her ages to find me and I was stifling laughter as I could see her running around so close to me and could hear her talking to herself about where I could possibly be.

Anyway, it occurred to me that to anyone outside of our little bubble, I probably just looked like some random weirdo hiding in bushes at a playpark, watching children while smiling to myself. If I was a bloke, I think there's a pretty good chance someone may have questioned me.

Moral of the story; there is often a very innocent explanation. Talk to the bloke. He has a dog, so that's an easy conversation starter. Sit next to him, hopefully the dog will sniff in your direction, you can say "aaawww... hello... aaaww, he's lovely, what's his name?" and break the ice, sus him out, trust your instincts.

THEN maybe alert the people PPs have suggested.

If you are 77% certain he’s taking photographs then report him to the police using the non emergency line.

But it's not a crime to take photographs in public places. There's nothing the police can do.

It was a phone! And no that is not the correct spelling. It is paedophile.

Was listening to a song on Spotify earlier, "Have You Seen Her", Chi-Lites (in my 'faves list)... Some of the lyrics below... How times have changed ☹️

One month ago today
I was happy as a lark
But now I go for walks
To the movies, maybe to the park
I have a seat on the same old bench
To watch the children play, huh
You know tomorrow is their future
But for me just another day
They all gather 'round me, huh
They seem to know my name
We laugh, tell a few jokes
But it still doesn't ease my pain

Paedo is British English
Pedo is American English

77% certain?
What if the OP is only 73% certain?

Pedophile is an accepted alternative spelling

And there's a difference between using your phone to type on mumsnet and holding it up to take photos

If I were in a park around children, I'd make damn sure to use my phone appropriately - especially as it sounds as though this has happened more than once

In fairness, OP doesn’t know if he is taking photos, they haven’t seen the photos. He may be reading something on his phone, the news, a book on the kindle app etc.

Personally I wouldn’t hold my phone up to use it anywhere anyway but I know both my dad and my gran could easily be mistaken for taking photos when actually they are just reading something/watching something on their phones as they both hold the phone directly infront of their face, upright.

I wonder what would happen if he was approached and told firmly that you do not want any photos of your children taken.

So we can't hold our phones up in case someone thinks we're a pervert?

Yeah if you do anyhing on the phone you have to hold it vertically.

Is isn’t illegal to take photos in public, it isn’t illegal to take photographs of children, as long as they aren’t indecent.

People can take as many photos as they like, whether you like it or not.

If he does have a sexual interest in children, there are thousands of places he can go to look at them at take photos.

Holding it up high so that it seems like youre taking photos - as a man, alone in a childrens play area where children are playing??

Come on, its so clearly weird

I wouldnt approach the man, or go smearing him around the park, but yeah I'd report it

What a weird leap!

You’re all bickering over a spelling, are you all in the same location?? Pedo is the American way of spelling of paedo

It doesn't say he's holding it up high though

I'm typing with my phone at chest height right now, could be scrolling, could be taking photos...

And oh no, a man, in a PARK... must be a pervert

my daughter and I keep sitting on random park benches (sometimes with our dog) and our phones, as we’re battling bosses and catching Pokemon (which are always at parks and other local attractions)

I would talk to the other parents and see if someone's husband could sit down next to him to see what he's doing.