Legendary Pedophile Hunter on Child Protection

Colonel of the Criminal Investigation Department in retirement Alexey Rodin specialized in crimes against children for more than two decades. In an interview, he shared his professional view on the psychology of pedophiles, the mechanisms of committing crimes, and safety measures. The conversation took place against the backdrop of the search for 9-year-old Pavel, who disappeared in broad daylight in a crowded place under surveillance cameras. Later, the boy«s body was found in a lake in Leningrad Oblast, and a suspect was detained.

According to the expert, many such crimes are situational. A pedophile may not plan the kidnapping in advance, but under certain circumstances, a genetically determined attraction takes over. «At the moment of realizing the desire, the brain shuts down. He doesn«t think about cameras or consequences,» Rodin explained.

Alexey Rodin is convinced that pedophilia is congenital and an incurable disorder. He cited the words of one convict: «I served 19 years and all those 19 years I dreamed of only one thing — to get out and start committing the same acts again.» The specialist emphasized that the nature of such criminals does not change over time, despite the development of technology.

The penitentiary system, according to Rodin, is incapable of rehabilitating a pedophile. Prison only serves the function of isolation. «As soon as he gets out, in the vast majority of cases, the urge does not go away,» the expert stated. He believes that for the safety of society, maximum long sentences are the most effective.

As for child protection, Rodin named two key skills: screaming loudly and running toward people. «There are situations when you can and should scream loudly. If someone is dragging you — you have every right to yell as if a fire has started,» he noted. The expert advises parents to literally allow children to be «inconvenient» for safety.

A particular danger comes not from strangers but from «own» adults — coaches, teachers, club leaders. «For a child, a coach is almost a demigod,» Rodin stated. In such cases, protection can only come from trusting relationships within the family and the parents« willingness to believe the child. The most vulnerable age, according to the specialist, is from 9 to 12 years.

The expert also addressed the problem of crimes committed by labor migrants. He insists on mandatory fingerprinting and genotyping for all incoming workers, as this speeds up identification. If the perpetrator manages to leave for his home country, obtaining a conviction is extremely difficult due to differences in legal systems.

A separate topic was incest. According to Rodin, such situations often remain latent because children are not always willing to put their parents in prison, and mothers sometimes deliberately turn a blind eye. Criminal liability for the mother arises only if her direct complicity is proven, not mere inaction.

In conclusion, Alexey Rodin emphasized that all cases of violent acts against children are under special supervision by the leadership of the police and the Investigative Committee, and their investigation receives priority attention, even in small settlements.