Can we find out for sure?

zaksmum

An elderly lady in my road had her son, aged about 50, move in with her about a year ago. He has kept to himself and we don't know much about him in the road. His mum says he split with his wife and needed somewhere to live so she offered him one of her spare rooms.

This week the word !!!!! was sprayed all over the front walls and doors of the house. His car tyres were slashed too. The next day letters were sent to every house in our road stating the man at this address was a !!!!!phile and not to allow children near him.

No idea whether this is true or not so we can't judge. The man hasn't come outdoors since this happened. But is there any way of finding out for sure? Some neighbours have suggested there's an online register of !!!!!philes but we don't even know the man's name.:(

whitewing

Call 101 for some advice (and maybe Sarah's Law, but you won't even be able to discuss it with neighbours if the police do tell you anything).

whitewing

Don't the leaflets mention his name?

Browntoa

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/briefings/sex-offender-disclosure-scheme_wda94183.html

How to use the scheme to access information

People who require further information on how the scheme operates in their own community and how they may make applications for disclosure should contact their local police force for more information.
It is important that information obtained using the scheme is kept confidential. Evidence from the United States showed that if an offender's details were automatically made public, a proportion would no longer comply with the notification requirements and could disappear, leaving the authorities unsure of their whereabouts and unable to monitor them (Fitch, 2007). There is also a risk of vigilante attacks from members of the public (Fitch, 2007).
If a disclosure is made, the information must be kept confidential and only used to keep the child in question safe. Legal action may be taken if confidentiality is breached. A disclosure is delivered in person (as opposed to in writing) with the following warning:

• "that the information must only be used for the purpose for which it has been shared i.e. in order to safeguard children;
• the person to whom the disclosure is made will be asked to sign an undertaking that they agree that the information is confidential and they will not disclose this information further;
• a warning should be given that legal proceedings could result if this confidentiality is breached. This should be explained to the person and they must sign the undertaking" (Home Office, 2011, p16).

If the person is unwilling to sign the undertaking, the police must consider whether the disclosure should still take place.

coolcait

I see that your neighbourhood is still as lively as ever, zaksmum! And still reluctant to take issues to the police.

In the unlikely event that the letters have full contact details for the person who sent them out, I would have a word with that person to see how/why they know that this man is a sex offender.

In the even more unlikely event that the letters were issued by an organisation, I'd go to the organisation for further information.

If the letters are anonymous, I would let the police know about them. They can then take the appropriate action - which may range from finding out who is spreading malicious and untrue rumours about the man, and pressing charges as appropriate, to arresting the man for being a known, and on the run, !!!!!.

Peter333

zaksmum wrote: »

An elderly lady in my road had her son, aged about 50, move in with her about a year ago. He has kept to himself and we don't know much about him in the road. His mum says he split with his wife and needed somewhere to live so she offered him one of her spare rooms.

This week the word !!!!! was sprayed all over the front walls and doors of the house. His car tyres were slashed too. The next day letters were sent to every house in our road stating the man at this address was a !!!!!phile and not to allow children near him.

No idea whether this is true or not so we can't judge. The man hasn't come outdoors since this happened. But is there any way of finding out for sure? Some neighbours have suggested there's an online register of !!!!!philes but we don't even know the man's name.:(

I agree with whitewing. Call 101 to ask for advice. Doesn't sound good.

Yorkie1

If you know his name then google it. If convicted then it's highly likely to have been reported online.

If he hasn't been convicted then this sounds potentially like revenge from a wronged ex, or vigilante justice which may or may not be based on stupidity like the people who attacked a paediatric doctor because they got the word wrong.

Even if there was anything at all in it, you have to ask why people think it OK to cause such damage to property belonging to an old person instead of using the correct routes i.e. the police.

gettingtheresometime

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/aug/30/childprotection.society

May be 14 yrs old but you never know with the intelligence of some people

Spendless

You say the lady is elderly. Has she lived in the street for a long time? If so, is it not possible that a long standing resident knows her and her name and her son's name? Part of me thinks if the letter was correct, then why hasn't a name been included because you could google it, but names aren't always revealed when it identifies the victim. It's quite possible that someone has already rang 101 over the damage and letters.

Neighbours can and do get the wrong end of the stick. My husband's Uncle rented and later bought a house off a man who was convicted for child abuse. The Uncle is single, childless and was middle aged. The neighbours got it into their heads that the 2 men had met in prison! Fortunately my sis-in-law (Uncle's niece) lives next door (which is the connection Uncle had to the empty house!) and could put the neighbours straight.

FBaby

Of course it could be an ex who is set on revange if say he gained visitation rights to their children when she fought against it!

I would attempt to find out as advised above, but ultimately, I would just keep my kids safe (if young) and aware (if older).

pinkshoes

Has the elderly lady been made aware that someone has sent these letters.

I bin all anonymous letters as I find them cowardly.

I'd phone 101 and discuss with the police.

Some people are thick enough to not know the difference between a !!!!!phile and a paediatric.