[Donut]

quote:

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Originally posted by Garnet FalconDance:


Ok, (playing devil's advocate so it's ok for a *possible* pedophile --don't care what the age of consent is, in my mind 16 is still not a fully-fledged adult esp. if still living at home!-- can legally contact and 'groom' ppl in such a manner and no one gets overly upset since by law he/she is of legal age?!?!?

Sorry if this sounds like a rambling rant-attack. It isn't meant to be. I become so agitated (understatement) at lawmakers who, through both good intent and pure pressure through questionable means, have decided that a small party of ppl should decide the fate of the future generation by enacting ridiculous laws designed to not offend anyone--often at the price of erradicating a great deal of moral fiber and common sense. In past, perhaps a 16 year old was able to act as an adult (indeed, historically, 16 was getting long in the tooth for a female). In this day and age with it's easy communication and instant gratification mindset, there needs to be a much greater awareness that there are indeed perverted ppl who actively seek innocent prey. And because our natural tendency is to trust until proven otherwise, they are especially dangerous.

I don't know what this 'grooming' is, Donut, but I do know that ppl groom *horses*, not young women. *Someone* needs to contact authorities if for no other reason than to alert them that this individual *may* be extremely dangerous and after a little more than someone to chat with! The entire incident sounds highly suspicious and little red flags should be raised IMMEDIATELY!

::ok, ok, I'm stepping off again...

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Yes Garnet FD this was a bit of a ramble [img]smile.gif[/img] but I share your agitaion and frustration. But whatever your view the fact is that if the girl is over 16 in Britain or 18 in the US this man has done nothing that the authorities can deal with. It's immorabut it isn't illegal. The problem has to be dealt with by the girl, her friends and especially her parents. They have to find a way to alert her to the dangers of this situation, and there is no doubt in my mind that this is a dangerous man. Anyway this is a moot point because this girl lives in the US and that makes it a crime for the man to lie to her in a chat room. CONTACT THE FBI LAV (and make a mental note to give us all the information next time [img]smile.gif[/img] )

As for the term 'grooming' in this context it has come to mean the preparation of a child to participate in sex. Sick I know, but it's about how they get inside a child's head. It isn't my term - you can see it used here from a report from the BBC today.

BTW, Please don't think this stuff doesn't get me angry.

Police in England and Scotland have carried out dawn raids on suspected paedophiles in the world's largest collaborative policing operation to root out child pornography.

Suspected paedophiles were arrested and computers and software were seized after a dozen homes were swooped on by police.

The National Crime Squad says the scale of the operation is unprecedented and represents the culmination of a worldwide clampdown on child pornography.

The raids involved law enforcement on four continents. More than 130 suspects were targeted in 19 countries including Australia, Canada, France, America, South Korea and Japan.

It discovered 60,000 fresh images of youngsters that had been downloaded and traded between paedophiles.

NCS said those arrested were suspected of using internet newsgroups to request, exchange and supply paedophile images.

"In one instance a newsgroup was used to seek help with the 'grooming' of a young child for abuse," said a NCS spokesman.

Intelligence gathered during the 10-month operation showed there were "dozens" of newsgroups carrying illegal paedophile images, he said.

Interpol distributed information to countries with the suspects and following two meetings in Lyon and London, the raids were launched.

Detective Superintendent Peter Spindler, heading the operation for NCS, said: "If you have an interest in this type of material, then society has a right to know who you are, what's your DNA and have we got you on the Sex Offenders' Register.

In one instance a newsgroup was used to seek help with the 'grooming' of a young child for abuse

NCS spokesman
"That is what is going to happen to the people that have been arrested."

DS Spindler said it was "particularly disturbing" that the paedophile images on the news groups were available for even children to access.

Those accessing the newsgroups did so regularly and "with purpose", he said.

"We also learnt, not surprisingly, that those abusing the internet have learnt from recent police successes how best to protect their true identities."

Detective Sergeant Doug Bewley, from Scotland Yard's paedophile unit, said: "Any piece of child pornography is an example of child abuse.

"There is no anonymity on the internet for anybody who deals with this disgusting material.

"It is a serious offence and any persons being found involved in it will be arrested and will be dealt with," DS Bewley told the BBC.

The BBC's crime correspondent Stephen Cape said the operation was complicated by the fact that lots of suspects use false addresses that are virtually impossible to trace.

"Behind these people there could well be organised gangs," he said.

Eight people have been arrested in the UK so far.

The files of more than 400 suspects could not be traced because they left no electronic trail.

The NCS has now developed "sophisticated facial mapping software" of children being used in the pornography which they hope will enable them to be quickly identified.