Paedophile fears - are they something simply stoked up by the press?

[sp1814]

Have a look at this story:

http://www.dailymail....child-Streetview.html

According to the report,"The photos...have sparked fears that paedophiles will have a new way to search for photos or targets online."

In order to do this, the prospective paedophile would have to note down the car number, then contact an insider at the DVLA, who would supply the owner's address, and then stalk the family in order to gain access to the child.

Are our fears of kiddy-fiddlers unfounded, merely a device generated by the press to sell more copies? Or is the country genuinely peppered with potential child rapists?

[birdie1971]

I think there probably are more paedophiles in this country than there were 50 years ago. Not because I believe that paedophilia is becoming more prevalent but because the population has effectively doubled in that time.

That being said, the number of dangerous paedophiles is very, very small. It was very small 50 years ago and even if that number has doubled due to the population explosion, doubling a very small number still results in a very small number. I honestly don't think that kids today are in any more danger from paedophiles than they were when my parents were kids.

What has changed is the all pervasive nature of the media. The fear of crime in general and the specific fear of dangerous paedophiles is disproportionate to the reality of the situation.

No matter where in the world an abuse takes place, it's on your TV and in in your front room before you know it. Once people hear about these truly appalling events – be they from Austria, the UK, USA, Canada, etc. - there appears to be a tendency for people to mentally geographically relocate the incident and start to believe that the danger is quite literally around the corner.

[birdie1971]

Continued....

This belief is almost entirely well-meaning but deeply flawed, culminating into the bizarre situation we have now in the UK where anyone who has any contact with kids outside of their own family is required to undergo a CRB check.

The media, having created this insane situation in the first place, continue to stoke the fire of irrationality because it is extremely lucrative.

Are our children safer as a result? No. The danger being mostly non-existent anyway.

Have some people become extremely wealthy riding this particular wave of fear? Yes.

[bobjugs12]

I almost agree with what birdie said. There are just a few things I'd add.
The risk to kids now is less than it was 50 years ago. Back then it was something that was hidden behind closed doors, usually the police were not brought in. The child may have been punished and society would have been unsympathetic to the victim.

Nowadays, we have a greater understanding of the threat; we have improved our abilities to prosecute the individuals involved; parents, teachers, carers, all have a better understanding and knowledge.

If anything kids are safer now than they have ever been. Unfortunately a Daily Wail headline stating "LIFE IS NOT TO BAD NOW, LETS JUST ENJOY THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOURS" would not sell half as much as "PEADO IMMIGRANTS STEALING OUR BENEFITS AND SENDING JOBS BACK TO UMM-BONGO-LAND"

[Quinlad]

The Brasseye special on paedophilia should be compulsory viewing, broadcast before every news report on the subject. Just to give some perspective on how ridiculous the media can be.

[birdie1971]

Quinlad – I couldn't agree more.