In America, far too many rapists are not made to pay for their crimes, and so they go merrily raping along, while their victims’ cases are marginalized, deprioritized, or just plain ignored by the local law enforcement agencies who are supposed to “protect and serve” them. Sometimes this happens because of incompetence, sometimes it’s corruption or ignorance, and sometimes it’s because the cops secretly think that women are to blame for being raped. Regardless of the cause, it’s a shameful fact that Rape Culture in America is alive and well, and enabled in part by the cops, prosecutors and judges who fail their communities on a daily basis.

Enter Anonymous, stage left. When a vicious gang rape was committed upon a teenager in Steubenville, Ohio, local law enforcement at first did nothing at all. Then a local blogger started making some noise and the cops kinda sorta started working a little bit. Then Anonymous got righteously pissed off, and proceeded to publish all sorts of information about the case. Two little s***s were convicted and are now doing time, no thanks to the locals. And thanks to Anonymous.

In Torrington, CT, a 13-year old girl was sexually assaulted by multiple males, some of them adults.. The cops again did bupkis, at least at first. Then a local blogger and Anonymous started making noise about the case, and they started to do their jobs, because they did not want to look like Steubenville. Four sexual predators are facing trial, thanks to local officials and Anonymous.

In Nova Scotia, a teenaged girl was gang-raped, blamed, and hanged herself after the cops did nothing. Again, Anonymous told the locals they would open a can of whoop-ass if they didn’t step up. Just like in Steubenville, the RCMP blew them off, and Anonymous opened the promised cans of whoop-ass. Surprise, surprise, the locals have re-opened the case, all the while complaining about vigilantes

News Flash: the reason vigilantes are acting is because, and only because, the duly constituted authorities have failed the citizens they are sworn to protect and serve. For years, the cops have been able to selectively protect women from violent crimes, at the discretion of the locals, because local culture pretty much decided how to deal with sexual assaults, domestic violence and suchlike. If the locality was a hotbed of rape culture, the victims were denied justice: if the area’s mores were based on the rule of law, the guilty were prosecuted.

Not anymore, says Anonymous (and a growing number of people around the world).No one should have to play dice with their safety, their lives, and their rights, depending on where they live and the attitudes of the local constabulary. If law enforcement won’t, you know, enforce the law, then we need the hacktivists to hold their feet to the fire until they do their jobs.

Here’s a reluctant toast, then, to the vigilantes at Anonymous. And here’s hoping that our public servants get the message, so that we no longer need Anonymous to protect us.

Mr. Blunt and Cranky.