The Paedophile Hunter

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Stinson Hunter (and associates) also known as 'the paedophile hunter', operates within UK law to obtain evidence against child sexual predators online in order to gain convictions and spread awareness about online safety.

He poses as a girl or boy between the ages of 11-15 on apps like badoo. When he is approached by an adult male he let's them know in the first reply that they are under the age of 16. If the adult then continues the conversation so does he and eventually suggests a meet up. If the adult does meet what they believe to be a person under the age of 16 he confronts the adult and films their reaction, and puts the evidence online as well as handing all evidence in to the police.

What do you think about Stinson exposing the evidence and therefore the identity of the perpetrators online? Do you think it is an effective way of spreading awareness of CSP online?

Stinson Hunter | Facebook

 

[columbus]

What do you think about Stinson exposing the evidence and therefore the identity of the perpetrators online? Do you think it is an effective way of spreading awareness of CSP online?

Freaking A!
Make the internet a little safer for underage people. Take out the worst offenders, legally.

I totally support his freedom of speech.

Tom

 

[leibowde84]

Stinson Hunter (and associates) also known as 'the paedophile hunter', operates within UK law to obtain evidence against child sexual predators online in order to gain convictions and spread awareness about online safety.

He poses as a girl or boy between the ages of 11-15 on apps like badoo. When he is approached by an adult male he let's them know in the first reply that they are under the age of 16. If the adult then continues the conversation so does he and eventually suggests a meet up. If the adult does meet what they believe to be a person under the age of 16 he confronts the adult and films their reaction, and puts the evidence online as well as handing all evidence in to the police.

What do you think about Stinson exposing the evidence and therefore the identity of the perpetrators online? Do you think it is an effective way of spreading awareness of CSP online?

Stinson Hunter | Facebook

Sure do. No sympathy for those that hurt and exploit children, practically ruining their lives in the process. They should be locked up and greeted by the other inmates who will be happy to give them a taste of their own medicine.

 

[gsa]

This sounds like "To Catch a Predator-UK Edition."

There are three primary problems with these quasi-vigilantes, as I see it. The first problem is that they are not law enforcement so it is relatively easy for them to mess up what we used to call "traveler" cases in the biz. But if you train them they can usually do a good job. The second problem is that there's a good argument that these kinds of actions, depending on how they are carried out, can actually create a problem where none might exist without law enforcement. In one case I worked on the agent had almost daily communication with the perpetrator for like six months, and was constantly pushing him towards offending.

Third, and my personal gut reaction: I cannot imagine wanting to do this work, and getting any kind of pleasure out of it. You spend all day indulging in adult-minor romantic and sexual banter, and there's no shortage of child pornography that gets tossed their way depending on how deep down the rabbit hole they travel. When I was actually working on child sexual abuse cases, I didn't view the videos or images as a rule, but I had to read the law enforcement descriptions and the case law, interview defendants, etcetera. That's difficult enough, but I can't imagine spending my days hunting offenders by pretending to be a minor interested in having sex with them. A significant number of law enforcement agents who work in this area develop psychological problems, including intimacy problems with their partners and distancing themselves from their children.

 

[dawny0826]

Stinson Hunter (and associates) also known as 'the paedophile hunter', operates within UK law to obtain evidence against child sexual predators online in order to gain convictions and spread awareness about online safety.

He poses as a girl or boy between the ages of 11-15 on apps like badoo. When he is approached by an adult male he let's them know in the first reply that they are under the age of 16. If the adult then continues the conversation so does he and eventually suggests a meet up. If the adult does meet what they believe to be a person under the age of 16 he confronts the adult and films their reaction, and puts the evidence online as well as handing all evidence in to the police.

What do you think about Stinson exposing the evidence and therefore the identity of the perpetrators online? Do you think it is an effective way of spreading awareness of CSP online?

Stinson Hunter | Facebook

The FBI does this in the states. I think that this type of work is crucial to catch those who may otherwise go unexposed as predators.

I'm not sure that it's necessary to go the extent of filming reactions. But, then, I've not any sympathy for predators either.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

This sounds like "To Catch a Predator-UK Edition."

There are three primary problems with these quasi-vigilantes, as I see it. The first problem is that they are not law enforcement so it is relatively easy for them to mess up what we used to call "traveler" cases in the biz. But if you train them they can usually do a good job. The second problem is that there's a good argument that these kinds of actions, depending on how they are carried out, can actually create a problem where none might exist without law enforcement. In one case I worked on the agent had almost daily communication with the perpetrator for like six months, and was constantly pushing him towards offending.

Third, and my personal gut reaction: I cannot imagine wanting to do this work, and getting any kind of pleasure out of it. You spend all day indulging in adult-minor romantic and sexual banter, and there's no shortage of child pornography that gets tossed their way depending on how deep down the rabbit hole they travel. When I was actually working on child sexual abuse cases, I didn't view the videos or images as a rule, but I had to read the law enforcement descriptions and the case law, interview defendants, etcetera. That's difficult enough, but I can't imagine spending my days hunting offenders by pretending to be a minor interested in having sex with them. A significant number of law enforcement agents who work in this area develop psychological problems, including intimacy problems with their partners and distancing themselves from their children.

Good points.
It has led to several convictions though, which means he must be doing something right in terms of how he handles the evidence. Also I don't believe he ever manipulates the adult into talking about sex. The adult is the one that starts that conversation and he would often respond naively and not say anything graphic back i.e "hehe what do mean? I haven't had sex I'm only 12."
You can read the conversations through the link in OP. I haven't seen any messages were he leads them.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

The FBI does this in the states. I think that this type of work is crucial to catch those who may otherwise go unexposed as predators.

I'm not sure that it's necessary to go the extent of filming reactions. But, then, I've not any sympathy for predators either.

Officials do the same in the UK but I think the problem is having the budget to continuously carry out these operations by officials.

 

[gsa]

Good points.
It has led to several convictions though, which means he must be doing something right in terms of how he handles the evidence. Also I don't believe he ever manipulates the adult into talking about sex. The adult is the one that starts that conversation and he would often respond naively and not say anything graphic back i.e "hehe what do mean? I haven't had sex I'm only 12."
You can read the conversations through the link in OP. I haven't seen any messages were he leads them.

I am sure he has been trained. The problem as I see it is that anyone could do this without much effort to attract, say, a YouTube following. And many of these people really have no idea what they are doing; in our office they would sometimes pop up on the wrong side of the v because they were running afoul of child pornography statutes.

Anyway, no thanks, I'll skip on the transcripts and take your word for it. For a while it was a kind of exciting area to work in because there were all sorts of new legal questions, but I've lost the intestinal fortitude it takes to read that crap.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

I am sure he has been trained. The problem as I see it is that anyone could do this without much effort to attract, say, a YouTube following. And many of these people really have no idea what they are doing; in our office they would sometimes pop up on the wrong side of the v because they were running afoul of child pornography statutes.

Anyway, no thanks, I'll skip on the transcripts and take your word for it. For a while it was a kind of exciting area to work in because there were all sorts of new legal questions, but I've lost the intestinal fortitude it takes to read that crap.

There was a documentary on his work and he gets letters by the police telling him to stop what he is doing because he isn't an official. But because he works within UK law they can't do anything about it.

 

[Revoltingest]

The FBI does this in the states. I think that this type of work is crucial to catch those who may otherwise go unexposed as predators.

I'm not sure that it's necessary to go the extent of filming reactions. But, then, I've not any sympathy for predators either.

That sums it up. These evildoers should fear every contact they ever make will be a trap.

 

[Revoltingest]

Sure do. No sympathy for those that hurt and exploit children, practically ruining their lives in the process. They should be locked up and greeted by the other inmates who will be happy to give them a taste of their own medicine.

While I sympathize with extrajudicial punishment in prison, I firmly believe that government should impose only that which has been ordered by the court.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Sure do. No sympathy for those that hurt and exploit children, practically ruining their lives in the process. They should be locked up and greeted by the other inmates who will be happy to give them a taste of their own medicine.

My opinion on this: I empathise with wanting punishment for rapists, but using rape as punishment for rape never changed a thing.

 

[Bunyip]

I am concerned about it. The guy himself has a long criminal history, he is also not working within the law, nor is he a law enforcement officer. As the local police keep telling him, his interference is counter productive. It compromises cases they have in progress, and can ruin any chance at a successful prosecution.
The last thing we need are vigilante, criminals acting as de facto officers of the law.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

I am concerned about it. The guy himself has a long criminal history, he is also not working within the law, nor is he a law enforcement officer. As the local police keep telling him, his interference is counter productive. It compromises cases they have in progress, and can ruin any chance at a successful prosecution.
The last thing we need are vigilante, criminals acting as de facto officers of the law.

How is he not working within the law? And he has had successful prosecutions.

 

[Bunyip]

How is he not working within the law? And he has had successful prosecutions.

I watched the doco on him, the police keep telling him to stop - he keeps ignoring them. Sooner or later he just gets arrested.

 

[Revoltingest]

I watched the doco on him, the police keep telling him to stop - he keeps ignoring them. Sooner or later he just gets arrested.

This could be just because cops hate competition...it makes'm look bad.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

I watched the doco on him, the police keep telling him to stop - he keeps ignoring them. Sooner or later he just gets arrested.

He can only be arrested if he breaks the law. As of now he is still working within UK law, which is why he hasn't been touched. Even uploading the evidence online is still legal. The biggest danger really is that he is compromising his own safety. A nonce may want revenge .

 

[Bunyip]

This could be just because cops hate competition...it makes'm look bad.

Were I the cops, I would indeed be worried about a man with such a catastrophic criminal record - particularly for violence playing at being a vigilante. It's rather like hiring a bear to watch the kids

 

[Bunyip]

He can only be arrested if he breaks the law. As of now he is still working within UK law, which is why he hasn't been touched. Even uploading the evidence online is still legal. The biggest danger really is that he is compromising his own safety. A nonce may want revenge .

Or more likely one of his own victims.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Or more likely one of his own victims.

They aren't victims!