Special Article: Abuse of authority

We find that a commonly reported problem in child abuse investigations is an abuse of authority based on pre-emptive guilt. Raids are very often carried out without a search warrant, and there is a disturbing new trend of police co-operation with anti-pedophile vigilante groups.

Here, we present a list of reported abuses of authority.

• The website twominuteverdict.org, documenting the conviction of Jeffrey Nickel - This website documents countless abuses of authority and due process in the trial of a man whose conviction is yet to be overturned.

• Mendori on BC - "I joined a group on Facebook advocating a mandatory national "pedophile" registry, and opened a topic asking if they recognized the difference between a pedophile and a child molester. The debate proceeded, during which I repeatedly told them I was 16 (truth), and that I have never actually touched a child, and had no intention of doing so, as my conscience would not be able to cope with the potential of harming a child psychologically (You cannot deny that not nearly enough genuine research has been done on the subject). They replied, nearly unanimously, that if they had their way I would be included in their registry despite being a legal minor myself and having no criminal record. In reply, I gave them a list of the constitutional rights and various laws that their proposed list would break. Etcetera. Eventually, one woman said she had contacted my school. As luck would have it, I had already left that school at that time, and the email was referred to the police, who came early in December and outed me to my parents. After being satisfied that I had not been sexing the kiddies, they warned me they could be back to confiscate my computers and check for child porn. Never have I been so glad I did not give in to temptation and download any."

• Conn. man says police broke into home, ripped out catheter - "HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A man alleges that police entered his home illegally and ripped a catheter from his body during a child pornography investigation that led to the arrest of two neighbors. Andrew Glover, 60, of New Britain filed a notice with the city Thursday that he intends to pursue a federal civil rights lawsuit. He accused the officers of inflicting severe injuries as he was recovering from intestinal surgery in February. Glover's lawyer, Paul Spinella, said police entered Glover's apartment Jan. 30 and Feb. 28. Glover wasn't involved in child pornography, has not been charged and has no criminal record, Spinella said.".