Paedophile hunters secure 150 charges
Police used evidence from paedophile hunters to charge suspects at least 150 times last year, it has been revealed.
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed a seven-fold increase in the use of such evidence from 2015.
But despite this, the National Police Chiefs Council say the tactics of such groups present "significant risks".
The news follows an admission last year from Simon Bailey, child protection spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, that while he did not condone the methods used by self-styled paedophile hunters, it might be necessary for forces to work with them in future.
Twenty-nine of the forty-three police forces in England and Wales responded to the request, providing details of how many charges were brought using evidence from non-police investigators. West Mercia Police did not provide a figure.
The hunters usually use "decoys" to pose as underage children online, who wait to be contacted by adults.
Once contact has been made, they will communicate privately with adults to identify those seeking to "groom" youngsters, and arrange to meet them, often posting live footage on social media and contacting police with the evidence.
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However, police have voiced concerns that they are risking public safety, as well as potentially interfering with their own investigations.
Catherine Foster, of West Mercia Police, said: "While usually well-intentioned, the actions of ‘vigilante’ paedophile hunter groups can potentially endanger victims of crime, lead to the destruction of evidence, interrupt covert police operations and ultimately jeopardise the legal process that’s needed to bring an offender to court.
"In addition, their activities may result in concerns for the suspect’s safety. That can mean significant police resources must be diverted into protecting them – resources that would be better invested in investigating and, where there is evidence, prosecuting."
There have been a number of instances of paedophile-hunters operating in the Shropshire area in recent years.
One of the best known, Stinson Hunter, has secured the conviction of two men in the county for attempting to have sexual activity with underage girls. In 2015, one of his sting operations led to the conviction of a 51-year-old Wellington man for attempting to groom what he thought was a 13-year-old girl.
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But the methods have also caused some controversy. In March, an inquest heard that a man from Southampton killed himself after he was caught in a sting operation by online paedophile hunters.
And in January a former police chief told the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse that masquerading as a child online should become a criminal offence to help snare predators while deterring vigilante paedophile hunters.
Jim Gamble said the crude methods used by have-a-go detectives should instead be taught to a “citizen’s army” of volunteers under police guidance.
Mr Bailey, who is chief constable of Norfolk Constabulary, said vigilante groups put the lives at children at risk, but conceded that officers may need to find a way of working with them.
“I think that’s something we’re going to have to potentially have to look at, yes, but it comes with some real complexity," he said.
“I’m not going to condone these groups and I would encourage them all to stop, but I recognise that I am not winning that conversation."
