Am I allowed to tell the police I’ve found the person they are looking for, on social media?

Posted by giraffe_4743@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 21 comments

I have an investigation going on with the police about abuse I experience as a child. They can’t find one person. They have only checked her place of work (where the abuse happened), and she is not on record of working there. I found her on instagram. Do I tell the police? Will I be done for stalking? Will they even be able to use that, as it’s not linked to the place of work?

Reply to Post

21 Comments

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SdanoG@reddit

I have been wondering about historical abuse, as a 13/14 year old lad I willingly had sex with a 21 year old woman and didn’t think much about it at the time but now looking back I wonder was it abuse or just young people being young

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No-Translator5443@reddit

Yea abuse mate you deserve a pay out

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Specific-Sundae2530@reddit

That was abuse.

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Specific-Sundae2530@reddit

Instagram is public, it's not stalking. Let them know. I hope justice is done

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WISJG@reddit

You will not be done for stalking, which is a complex offence and the victim must suffer harm or distress. Have you approached this woman? Why would you not tell the police? You should provide this information to your contact

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giraffe_4743@reddit (OP)

I haven’t approached her. She has a private account but I recognise the face instantly

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blueroses8000@reddit

I think you’re only thinking of it this way as you were actively searching for them, but you can stumble upon these profiles any time, they’re public information and IG even recommends profiles to you.

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YouCantArgueWithThis@reddit

Of course you tell! Right away.

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SadAnnah13@reddit

You won't be done for stalking. As a...stalkee? I can tell you that the bar for getting a stalking conviction is really bloody high, mine only got done for harassment in the end, even though there was loads of evidence proving a course of conduct. You'll be fine to point them in the direction of this woman's insta.

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iffyClyro@reddit

Yes, you absolutely tell the police. No you will not be done for stalking as that’s not the definition of stalking. Source: Ten years of being a police officer.

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Spiritual_Tie3348@reddit

Yeah tell them.The police search social media themselves for leads.

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miemcc@reddit

Do NOT post on social media. It could compromise any trial. Give them any evidence and keep chasing them for resolution!

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fvalconbridge@reddit

Yes, you can tell the police! They will work with you! They have a social media team for abuse cases - even historical abuse. They will find this person by you giving them the account, they did it for me!

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L-0-T-H-0-S@reddit

Yes, you should tell the police immediately. You won't be charged with stalking for finding a suspect on public social media.

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DMF_47@reddit

Finding someone's Instagram would not constitute stalking. Tell the police

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FelisCantabrigiensis@reddit

Why not tell the police? As a crime victim whose crime is being investigated you should have a contact at the police for your case. Tell them that you believe this person you have found on Instagram is the person they are looking for and provide the information that you have. Stalking requires harm or distress to the person being stalked, and usually some element of communication either with them or others. Finding public information and sending it to the police can't be stalking.

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intangible-tangerine@reddit

Tell the police. Stalking involves harrasment. Just finding a person on social media is not harrassment by any stretch of the imagination.

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Puzzled-Antelope8058@reddit

I would send them it. It's not considered stalking unless you are making unwarranted and excessive contact with this person. The police are pretty useless to be honest so I'd be doing everything I can to get this person punished for what they did. I'm sure they'd be able to find someone who commits benefit fraud within seconds.

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montyrattus@reddit

What's the crime?

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Eoin_McLove@reddit

Yeah sure.

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