‘Deeply disturbing and wrong’: Scotland police label pedophiles as ‘minor-attracted people’ in EU report

Scotland Police have ended 2022 on a decidedly sour note after referring to pedophiles as “minor-attracted people” in a year-end report, sparking outrage at home and across social media.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone stated in the report that the Specialist Crime Division (SCD) Public Protection “has engaged in the Horizon Europe Project – Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).”

“The project’s main agenda is to develop understanding and approach to avoid the victimisation of children by engaging Minor-Attracted People (MAPs) and providing them with the necessary support, treatment and guidance to help prevent criminal activities,” the report reads.

“The move comes amid wider concerns by campaigners over what they see as attempts to rebrand paedophilia as a harmless sexual preference,” according to the Scottish Daily Express.

MAPS is not the term typically used by the Scottish police, a spokesperson for the force stated, but it is widely used in the EU.

“Police Scotland does not use the term Minor-Attracted Person. The reference in the Chief Constable’s Assessment of Policing Performance 2021/22 was in the context of Police Scotland’s engagement with the Horizon Project EU consortium to tackle Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation,” the spokesman said.

“The term was used in the commissioning documents for the consortium and is more commonly used on the continent,” he continued, adding, “In September, Police Scotland representatives successfully lobbied for the MAP term not to be used by the consortium.”

The explanation failed to assuage the anger of many in Scotland.

“Spouting these euphemisms simply masks the reality and their danger,” Kenny McAskill, Alba Party MP for East Lothian and former SNP Justice Secretary, told the outlet.

“I very much welcome the common sense approach from Police Scotland, though even in commissioning documents these euphemisms should be avoided as they mask the reality and hide the horror,” he stated. “The term in whatever context is baloney.”

A conservative Scottish party spokesperson said that “most Scots will find any attempt to soften the language around pedophilia in official guidance to be deeply disturbing and wrong.”

“Offences relating to pedophilia are among the most appalling and unforgivable crimes anyone can commit and it’s essential that Police Scotland guidance reflects this,” the spokesperson added.

The term “MAP” results in the “danger of normalizing and therefore perhaps decriminalizing a serious offense,” explained independent social work consultant Maggie Mellon.

“There should be diagnostic and treatment options for those who present a risk to children but the police are not a therapeutic service – they should be devoting their resources to closing down porn sites that feature children and abuse of women and upping their detection and conviction rates for those promoting child abuse,” she said.

On Twitter, users are disgusted by the Chief Constable’s choice of words.

“It beggars belief,” wrote one user. “The Chief Constable needs to be immediately removed from office, but that’s just a start. This is the disturbing culmination of a planned policy. The language is no accident. Who is behind it?”

“They are PAEDOPHILES, nothing else!!” fumed another user. “If ever electro shock therapy is needed, it’s now with these deviants everywhere. If they actually believe it’s ok, why don’t they let their kids go on holiday with the deviants then?”

“Hell. No,” stated a third, while a fourth called the softened term, “Utterly disgusting!”

Melissa Fine

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