Originally Posted by Deep Purple:
“They cant prosecute them if they are not acting illegally. However, their "investigations" do not carry any weight. If such a person is caught, the police will have to investigate to see if an offence has been committed, and usually it seems to be the one mentioned earlier, where no one has actually been harmed.
I'm not saying such people are not capable of causing harm if the circumstances arrive, but I'm not happy with the types doing this, nor their methods.
What's to stop them targeting all types of offence, because of the power trip it gives them? Would you be happy with that? I know I wouldn't.
The shortcomings of the police capabilities of dealing with everything that goes on does not justify these types trying to take over.”
Well I agree with everything you say, to be honest.
The reason I started the thread was because of these comments:-
Quote:
“Senior police are highly critical of such groups, claiming they pose a danger to the public, put active police investigations at risk, and put themselves and the public at risk during confrontations, as well as real children who may actually be being abused.
Yet rank-and-file officers are increasingly working with them and courts are accepting the evidence they put forward.
Vera Baird, a prominent policing official, believes law enforcers can't shut themselves away from the work of paedophile trappers and is calling for closer links between the two sides.
"The police do need to acknowledge that these groups are likely to continue to do what they are doing and that the public are not opposed to that," she says. ”
That rank and file officers are (apparently) although I don't know if true or not, increasingly working with these groups. Also, because of the comments of this Vera Baird. Lastly because courts are apparently accepting their evidence - and that in no way negates all the extra work that the police have to do, once the suspect has been identified.
As I say, I do have grave doubts about these people, but at the same time wonder if they can be in any way guided by the police (I know you mentioned special constables earlier, but I'm not sure they'd go for that, as they do appear to be one trick ponies).
It might prevent them from making mistakes, or help at least. Only a suggestion, since they are not doing anything illegal, and look set to continue regardless.