Anti paedophile vigilantes ‘could put children at risk’

Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said that groups such Letzgo Hunting, set up to target paedophiles, are at risk of being infiltrated by the very people they are trying to identify.

One of our worst fears is that groups such as these are infiltrated by the very people they are trying to identify – ACPO

An ACPO spokesperson said: “While these groups may often operate with the best of intentions, we do not encourage action of this kind, which can compromise ongoing investigations into paedophile networks, and could spark an abuser to further harm a child if they feel threatened.

“One of our worst fears as a police service is that groups such as these are infiltrated by the very people they are trying to identify and as they have no formal vetting or security processes they simply can’t guard against it.

“As well as this, police often use covert methods – which for obvious reasons cannot be disclosed – to identify paedophiles, and vigilante operations by members of the public could unwittingly disrupt these investigations.”

Vigilante group

Vigilante group Letzgo Hunting describes itself to be “a dedicated group of individuals who make it their business to flush out devious and unscrupulous individuals like paedophiles.”

The group claims to pose as 14-year-old girls online to lure suspected sex offenders into arranging face-to-face meetings. At those meetings, members of the group reveal their real identities and film the encounter.

They then post footage of the meeting online before sending any transcripts to the police.

A Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) spokesperson said: “While we understand the public’s desire to protect their children from online abuse, we do not encourage vigilante investigations of this nature as they can compromise ongoing investigations into paedophile networks, and could spark an abuser to harm a child if they feel threatened.

“Identifying alleged paedophiles is best left to the police and suspected incidents of online grooming can be reported to CEOP.”

Jon Brown, lead for tackling sexual abuse at the NSPCC, added: “Whilst we have every sympathy for concerned parents, tracking down sex offenders must be done by the proper authorities.

“It’s possible that people could get hurt or that a delicate and complex on-going investigation could be jeopardised and children put at greater risk.”

Suicide

In May 29-year-old Gary Cleary from Leicestershire hanged himself after being confronted by the group and being questioned by police. A coroner last week ruled last week that the cause of his death, was suicide.

Letzgo Hunting said it was not to blame for Mr Cleary’s suicide and that it would carry on targeting suspected paedophiles. However on Wednesday an update on the group’s Facebook page, purportedly written by its founder, said it might be closed down.

It read: “I am Jamie (alias) I founded Letzgo Hunting, as my family have been put at risk by Stinson Hunter’s PUBLIC naming of us and constant threats to reveal our identity I am standing down.

“I have offered the running of Letzgo Hunting to another member of the team, if he declines, we will simply close the group.”

Anyone concerned about a child's safety should contact the police, the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000, CEOP on 0870 000 3344 or visit at www.ceop.police.uk