ChrisJones 7,975 Posted April 10, 2018 Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 I came across this article in today's online edition of the US issue of the Guardian. According to the article, there has been a sevenfold increase in the amount of evidence derived from online paedophile hunters to charge suspects. Quote There has been a sevenfold increase in the use of such evidence from 2015, figures obtained by the BBC under freedom of information laws suggest. Two-thirds of the 43 police forces in England and Wales provided data, which showed that in 2017 almost half of the cases against people charged with meeting a child after sexual grooming used evidence from the groups. Police and government figures are obviously warning of the dangers of such actions from personal danger to damaging ongoing surveillance and while they're correct they're contributing evidence in almost half of these cases. Quote a former police chief told the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse that masquerading as a child online should become a criminal offence to help snare predators while deterring vigilante paedophile hunters. This would remove almost half of the evidence gathered used to charge suspects and wouldn't stop criminals as they're already breaking the law before the law is changed. The closing paragraph of the article reads... " the crude methods used by have-a-go detectives should instead be taught to a “citizen’s army” of volunteers under police guidance." With cuts to police budgets, I would be absolutely alright with a citizens army stewarded by law enforcement as a 21st-century approach to cybercrime. Thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted April 10, 2018 Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 In sure that's a job many of those nosey shiftless c**ts on Facebook would embrace. Give them a reason and excuse to be on it every waking minute. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJones 7,975 Posted April 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 7 minutes ago, scothunter said: In sure that's a job many of those nosey shiftless c**ts on Facebook would embrace. Give them a reason and excuse to be on it every waking minute. Scot, if it's done under the supervision of law enforcement could we turn the powers of social media into the good for a change? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marshman 7,758 Posted April 10, 2018 Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 It’ll never happen, if it works it’ll just highlight how crap our police are Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJones 7,975 Posted April 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 1 minute ago, W. Katchum said: Surely be easier for the law just to deal with the groups already operating an getting results, maybe mentor them?? or set guideline an even register the groups or what ever, but scrapping summat just to redo it when it’s alresdy working just sounds like a money spending excersize an a lot of advertising they are doing summat, even tho it’s already being done ?? That's what I thought too but if the police are struggling with funding and don't have the manpower at least legitimise the existing volunteers to churn out evidence in a way that can be used by the courts to convict? Private sector assistance to a struggling public sector. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJones 7,975 Posted April 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 Just now, marshman said: It’ll never happen, if it works it’ll just highlight how crap our police are If it convicts these scumbags does it matter? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marshman 7,758 Posted April 10, 2018 Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 1 minute ago, ChrisJones said: If it convicts these scumbags does it matter? You’ve taken it wrong if it works which I think it would , but if it works and shows up our police force for what it is Innept then THEY won’t want it to happen. They’ll never hand over the power EVER ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJones 7,975 Posted April 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 1 minute ago, marshman said: You’ve taken it wrong if it works which I think it would , but if it works and shows up our police force for what it is Innept then THEY won’t want it to happen. They’ll never hand over the power EVER ? True but we're consistently demonstrating that the public sector is both costing us more money and becoming increasingly inefficient. They might not want it to happen but they work for us... The fact that a national newspaper is angling towards private sector assistance shows a pretty good shift in attitudes, IMHO. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KES2 171 Posted April 10, 2018 Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 If they are honest and film all their contacts with the supposed paedophiles then why not. The danger is they approach someone who isnt a paedophile but the Police record on that is abysmal - take Cliff Richards case with TV filming the search. If the police dont perform others should, especially those who have established success. Has anyone heard about Cheltenham child abuse - I think it was Cheltenham to add to all the other child abuse towns where the Police have failed to enforce the law to protect the most vulnerable. The Police havent established the right to be the exclusive crime fighting agency simply because they fail or turn a blind eye (racist potential) so often. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted April 10, 2018 Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 20 minutes ago, ChrisJones said: Scot, if it's done under the supervision of law enforcement could we turn the powers of social media into the good for a change? Aren't there a dept in the force who deals with it. I dunno in not a fan of on-line vigilantes myself. But it seems social media is the driving force behind everything these day's. Old duffers like me don't understand the hype around it nor do I wish to. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJones 7,975 Posted April 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 2 minutes ago, scothunter said: Aren't there a dept in the force who deals with it. They have people dedicated to that kind of investigation but they're underfunded and undermanned. I'm not a fan of them either but this could harness the best of both worlds and take out more child predators. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted April 10, 2018 Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 Suppose if it's done if it's done properly and the People vetted trained then aye don't think it is a bad thing then. But imo parents should be the ones monitoring what kids are doing online but there to busy themselves prying into what there neighbours have had for there dinner than concerning themselves who/what there wee angel's are up to online Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJones 7,975 Posted April 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 2 minutes ago, scothunter said: Suppose if it's done if it's done properly and the People vetted trained then aye don't think it is a bad thing then. But imo parents should be the ones monitoring what kids are doing online but there to busy themselves prying into what there neighbours have had for there dinner than concerning themselves who/what there wee angel's are up to online Agreed but an ounce of prevention is always worth a ton of cure! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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