Paedo warning…

[ValnBen]

Hi, not sure what, if anything, I should do about this so thought I would put it to the MN jury.

DS?s school (primary ? DS in reception) have sorted out access to free parking spaces in the Council Car Park at the back of the school during drop off/pick up time.
I have been using this facility since I found out about it at the beginning of the October term.
During this time I have been ?peripherally? aware of people in the car park walking their dogs, but not thought much of it other than hoping that the dog doesn?t come near us as I?m terrified of them (but try very hard not to show this in front of DS..but that?s a whole other issue ? I digress)

Anyway, my next door neighbour happens to own one of the buildings by the side of this car park and we see him most mornings. This morning he made a point of stopping me on the way back to my car to point out a man with a Dalmatian dog saying to make sure I kept my lad away from him as he?s a know paedo and on the sex offenders reg.
Obviously this came as a bit of a shock. Horrified to think that some one like that could be so near to a school in the first place let alone with a kiddy magnet (dog)!!
Surely they have restrictions imposed on them with regards to proximity of schools/children???
Obviously I only have my neighbour?s word for any of this, but he has been around here for ever and seems to know everyone (small seaside town).

Having spent all day pondering on this I still don?t know what to do for the best.

Ignore it, but make sure I keep DS away (just in case)
Alert other parents using the car park ? even though I have nothing to substantiate the story. (again, just in case)
Speak to the school
Something else?

What would you do?

i would actually do nothing, as atm youonly your neighbours warning for it.

its not your about to let your kid wander off with the blooke with dog is it?

ValnBen,

This man may NOT be a paedophile, it could just be one of those awful rumours that ruins people's lives. I would exercise nomal caution and continue as normal.

Oh and IME dogs are not a 'kiddy magnet'

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I think I would ask your neighbour where he got his information from and perhaps obtain further information from the police in relation to restrictions under the sex offenders register.
It may well be that your neighbour has got it all wrong or is just stirring up trouble and you don't want to go in head first.

Or even feet first!

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Be careful, if your neighbor is wrong you could ruin this guys life.

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Speak to the school

Also you should be careful. I had a dalmation once, they are cute but very aggressive. They don't like kids or strangers.

Alternatively, you could contact your local police station, mention what you have been told and ask them to check whether such a person is on the Sex Offenders' Register.

That way you are not spreading possibly false rumours, you are alerting the police if this man is breaching his conditions (such as not going near schools, etc.) and you have the feeling that you have done something.

You don't know where your neighbour got this information nor its veracity, so you do need to be careful how you proceeds. A quick call to the local plod should be the best thing.

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If I were you, tis is what I would do.

In passing mention to your friends (if you really feel you must, I personally wouldn't) that someone told you there is a known sex offender in the vicinty but under no circs would I point the man out. You don't know if what you have been told is true. Someone you tell may take it upon themselves to mete out their own justice - whether what you have been told is true or not some people thn they have a right to do this.

Mos importantly make yur kids aware of what to do regarding stanger danger - whether there is a known offnder inyour area or not. Tell them what to do in a worst case scenario. tbh this is all you can realistically do.

Oh and don't panic - you probably walk by a handful of paedos every day and never know it.

the only thing you can do is maybe call the police if you know his name and tell them the info you received, mentioning he is hanging about schools

if he is known they will come and pay him a visit i would think

Valnben - I live quite close to you, I think, and tbh, I have heard similar things about people in my village. It appears to be a generic insult for someone that people are not quite sure of - you know the kind of person who seems not quite right, but you can't put your finger on why? - Keep an eye on him, obviously, but I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.

on topic but slightly off course - is there a sex offenders register for public to see ?

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Didn't mean to sound so flippant - obviously it is a worry!

have to agree....these sort of accusations, if no basis in fact, can easily turn into nasty witchunts.....lives can and have been ruined,

and why are dogs a kiddy magnet??????

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Thanks everyone ? you?ve all come up with the same arguments and points that I have had rumbling around my head all day.

My neighbour could be wrong (hopefully he is)
He may even be a freak himself as icod pointed out ? I only know him to say morning/hello etc.
Obviously I wouldn?t be letting DS wonder off with Dalmatian man, not really my point.

I had sort of decided to ignore but exercise caution but then started to worry that if it was true and something untoward happened and I?d said nothing, I would be at fault too. IYSWIM.

if you see anyone acting suspiciously around a playground/school then of course you should alert the school office however walking a dog doesnt constitute suspicious

although i personally wouldnt do it

A lot of children absolutely love dogs and will go up to any that they see. DS3 is mad about dogs and will go to stroke any around - although he always asks the owner first if it is OK to do so.

And Dalmations are so visible and have the "Disney" factor.

So yes dogs can be a kiddy magnet.