OBU Investigators UK

[daftlad]

This may be of interest to some.

The wife of a man jailed for indecent image offences has set-up a support group for the partners of “internet offenders”.

BBC story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8568463.stm

Open Hands support group: http://www.openhandsgroup.com/index.php


daft.

[WM]

Ah, OH has relaunched, I dealt with them in my early days.

Not sure it is the same one.

WM
_________________
"Believing, as I do, in the forgiveness of sins and the redemption of ignorance …"

Sir Cyril Townsend, 1978 - Introduced the Private Member's Bill, which led to the Protection of Children Act 1978.

wmcriticalestoppel@googlemail.com

[Wronglyaccusedbutfree]

Either way, a much needed resource. I know how much my wife suffered as a result of what happened.

Lucky for me, she has now moved on, and much wiser to the world, but it still does not take back what happened to her.

As long as the group is open to supporting the partners of those wrongfully accused as well, I wish them all the success they need.

Cheers

KK
_________________
Wronglyaccusedbutfree

[pete]

Hmmm.

I have to declare that I'm a little sceptical about the nature and quality of the 'help' being offered by a 'support group' such as this when looking at pictures is referred to as the "worst imaginable" offence. Starving a seven year old to death or breaking a toddler's back, both of which occurred under the noses of our ever-watchful child protectors in the UK, both seem rather more befitting of this description to me. I wonder what WM thought about OH?

Without wishing to appear harsh - the partners and children of men arrested in these appalling dawn raids have indeed been put through hell -I've noticed that 'victim's groups' are often 'vindictiveness' groups, which never question whether someone should be publicly destroyed, imprisoned and, all too often, driven to suicide for gazing at photos.

Might it just be that the shattering trauma, the loss of homes, livelihoods, and lives, not to mention the threatened removal of children into the absurdly named 'care' system, are not caused by a few slightly depressed blokes looking at pictures but by an overmighty prosecutorial State? A State which will cheerfully send a posse of bull-necked policemen crashing through someone's front door before dawn to legally burgle their homes and terrify their loved ones as the prelude to utterly demolishing their lives?

Call me a cynic, but until a partners' support group arises which protests against the savaging of harmless lives by fanatical, ruthless and/or paranoid bullies appointed by the State, I'm inclined to reserve judgement on initiatives like this. I'm sceptical about whether sitting in a circle and 'supporting' one another in agreeing what an evil monster your partner was amounts to either 'help' or 'progress,' although it may provide an outlet for all sorts of unrelated pent-up feelings of vengefulness. It's strange how so much hate and vitriol can accompany so many apparently 'loving' relationships, just waiting for an opportunity and a 'support group' to come along to set it free.

OK, so this is my somewhat jaded caricature of the venture. But I'm still sceptical.

best to all,

pete

[Peter]

[Wronglyaccusedbutfree]

Hi Guys,

rather than speculate, I made contact and it would appear from the response that they are really about finding ways to protect families as well as support.

Support of course can take various forms, and there are a myriad of emotional responses a partner can go through as a result of a family member being charged with an internet crime.

They were very supportive of the idea of campaigning to stop the public naming and shaming of people arrested for these sorts of crimes. This of course would have obvious benefits in protecting the families of those so charged.

Lets see how they go?

Cheers

KK
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Wronglyaccusedbutfree

[pete]

Hi KK,

Well done for checking them out. I genuinely hope that they provide true solidarity for profoundly traumatised families. But I would include the husbands, sons and other males 'seized' by the fanatics in the porn police and the prosecutorial State amongst the 'victims.' Instinctively liberal by nature (in an old fashioned, classical sense), my 'live and let live' inclinations are suspended when it comes to witch-hunts and social cleansing programmes.

Here, 'support,', I fear, has to take sides. You're either part of the solution, or part of the problem, to misquote Eldridge Cleaver. Offering breathy, 'supportive' counselling to traumatised people can effortlessly support the crazy, vicious status quo which caused their distress in the first place. Being 'nice' and 'supportive' are vacuous palliatives unless they are prepared to 'take up arms' and oppose this murderous witch-hunt from the outset.

I promise that I'm not rolling my eyes or foaming at the mouth as I write this, but I'm still not persuaded.

best to all,

pete

[Halcyon]

I understand your cynicism entirely Pete, but I'm giving them a chance. I've contacted them, anyway.

[pete]

Good luck, Halcyon; I would like to be wrong about my suspicions!

best to all,

pete

[Halcyon]

I've now spoken to one of the women involved, and told her that I'd experienced things from both sides of the fence. She seemed perfectly genuine, sensible and open to hearing about Ore. I've been reading up on her story and I must admit, it sounds pretty horrific and sordid - involving a lot more than simply possessing 'indecent' images. The group is very small and new, but I think it's much needed and long overdue. We hope to meet some time.