For some time now, so called and self styled paedophile hunters have been using the internet to pose as teenagers and set up amateur sting operations to trap older men seeking to meet young teenage girls. There is no doubting that some have succeeded in bringing a few offenders to justice earlier than they otherwise might have been.
Senior police condemn these groups saying they interfere with their operations, and that they place both themselves and the public at risk during confrontations. But apparently some officers are taking a pragmatic approach, and increasingly working with them, whilst the courts accept the evidence they put forward.
Policing official Vera Baird believes that the police can't pretend these groups don't exist, and is calling for closer links between them.
The hunters themselves, see their role as an adjunct to the police, who they perceive as not having sufficient resources themselves to fully pursue the offenders.
I've got very very mixed feelings about what they do. On the one hand, yes, they are helping. On the other......well who knows what trouble they might cause.
Thoughts of the forum?
link
Senior police condemn these groups saying they interfere with their operations, and that they place both themselves and the public at risk during confrontations. But apparently some officers are taking a pragmatic approach, and increasingly working with them, whilst the courts accept the evidence they put forward.
Policing official Vera Baird believes that the police can't pretend these groups don't exist, and is calling for closer links between them.
The hunters themselves, see their role as an adjunct to the police, who they perceive as not having sufficient resources themselves to fully pursue the offenders.
I've got very very mixed feelings about what they do. On the one hand, yes, they are helping. On the other......well who knows what trouble they might cause.
Thoughts of the forum?
link



