What would you have done?

[miasmum]

Yesterday afternoon Tim and I sat in Russell Square Gardens. There were two little children playing in the fountain, then another two decided to join them. They were two little girls aged about 4 and 6 and mum stripped them off in full view of everyone and changed them into their swimming costumes. Because of his job Tim is quite sensitive about this, but even I said not sure I would do that, you don't know who is around.

Anyway, four little children playing in the fountain, then Tim and I clocked a man sitting on a bench with a camera with a fairly heavy duty lens snapping away. He was quite scruffy, wearing a really worn suit, chain smoking, literally lit one from the next and constantly taking photos of these children. Tim wanted to go and tell the parents, but my argument was he was sitting in full view, that was their job. I know I would have asked him to stop taking photos of my child.

After about 15 mins he got up wandered over to one of the parents, borrowed a pen from someone else sitting around and I can only presume he got their contact details. Why? They were taking their own photos all the time. The other mother got her girls dressed and walked away. We followed her out and wish I'd spoken to her, but if she was blissfully unaware, I didn't want to worry her, as what would she have done, plus I did think more fool her.

I felt really uncomfortable and wonder if he does this often. I am in two minds whether to ring the non-emergency police but not sure if there is any point.

What do you think?

[Kaz]

Oh Shell that does sound a bit dodgy Why did the parents not go ballistic when he spoke to them, and why were they undressing their children in full view?

The whole set up gives me more questions than I care to think about but I'm not sure what, if anything, the police could do

[miasmum]

I wonder if maybe he does it frequently and maybe on a nice sunny day they could be patrolling and take a look.

[Kaz]

Maybe - hopefully they might. I don't see what you could have done though Shell, although I can see Tim's POV too......

[miasmum]

I rang the non-emergency police, they were very interested and I got a telling off for not ringing 999 at the time.

So be advised, if you see anything like this the police want to know there and then.

If it had been my child I would have demanded he delete the photos and I would still have rung the police

[victor]

definitely would have rung them--maybe even a pic of him with my phone

[Paddypix]

I think you did the right thing and from the sound of the police response so do they. It all sounds very dodgy. I think there's a lot of paranoia about paedophiles but in a case like this what else could you suspect?

[Kaz]

I'm glad the police took it seriously - I thought perhaps there might be nothing they could do after the event, but am comforted to think they will act I wonder if there is CCTV on the Square, it does seem to be everywhere these days

[Ally]

I think you did the right think Shell and I'm with Vic about taking a photo of the man as you just never know.

When we were in Goa on holiday the twins were 3 and we were on the beach with them when we spotted a man (50ish) whose fancypants camera was focused on our boys!

Don marched right up to him and asked what the hell he was doing!

The man apologised profusely saying that the twins looked really cute in their coca cola hats and stripey t shirts.

He swore he hadn't taken any photos and hastily left the beach.

We didn't see him again.

What a horrid world it is sometimes.

[cruiser2]

When our grand daugher was younger and learning to swim, I wanted to take photos of her in the baths. These are owned and run by the local council. Had a long discussion with one of the managers before he gave me permission to use my video camera. This is over ten years ago. Have still got the film.
On our last cruise in May, while we were in Vigo, Spain, saw a group of school children about six years old eating their lunch in a small park. Asked one of the teachers if I could take a photo. So I have some photos of the children eating and posing with their distinctive red caps on.
I think I would have had words with the man and contacted the police sooner.