Scottish police referred to pedophiles as “minor-attracted people,” a term often intended to destigmatize child abuse, in a major new report.
“Minor-attracted people” is a term widely used by those trying to decriminalize or normalize pedophilia, as it doesn’t have the negative connotation that surrounds the word “pedophilia,” the Telegraph reported. The term was used in the context of Chief Constable Iain Livingstone’s annual force report, which made reference to a European project to treat pedophiles.
The Europe Project, as the program was called, was aimed at “providing [pedophiles] with the necessary support, treatment and guidance to help prevent criminal activities.”
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Scottish conservatives, alongside many other Scottish political groups, raised concerns over the terminology, with one calling it “deeply disturbing.”
“Most Scots will find any attempt to soften the language around pedophilia in official guidance to be deeply disturbing and wrong,” a Scottish police spokesman said. “Offenses relating to pedophilia are among the most appalling and unforgivable crimes anyone can commit and it’s essential that Police Scotland guidance reflects this.”
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However, Scottish police insist that it was not an attempt at normalization.
“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,” a Scottish police spokesman insisted. “The term was used in the commissioning documents for the consortium and is more commonly used on the continent.
