While online platforms can be used to bring legitimate crimes to justice, they can also be used to spread rumours that aren’t true and levy serious accusations towards innocent people.
One of the ways in which ordinary citizens use the internet to attempt to identify criminals is the activity of ‘paedophile hunters’ – individuals or groups who seek out ‘online predators’ who may commit sexual offences against children.
Typically, paedophile hunters will create fake accounts and pose as children online, which ‘lure’ predators into striking up an online relationship with them. After speaking with them for a while, the ‘child’ will eventually agree to meet with the adult for a sexual encounter – except when they show up, the paedophile hunting group is waiting for them.
These groups usually film their ‘stings’ and post them online, sometimes even streaming them live, exposing the alleged criminal and contacting the police to apprehend them. The authorities will usually launch an investigation if there is enough evidence to do so.
So, is this kind of vigilante activity legal? What happens if you’re ‘caught’ by paedophile hunters? Read on for answers to these questions.
What does the law say about vigilante paedophile hunters?
Paedophile hunting groups form and operate based on the belief that the police are under-equipped and not doing enough to protect children from online predators, so they as ordinary citizens must become vigilantes and intercept offenders.
If a police offer isn’t present to arrest a person who has committed a serious offence, and a citizen has reasonable belief that the person has committed the offence, then they could have grounds to perform a ‘citizen’s arrest’ under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE).
This would allow the hunters to temporarily detain the suspect to prevent them from leaving the scene or causing harm to themselves or others before the police arrived. However, citizens do not have the same powers as the police – they cannot detain someone for a prolonged length of time, nor can they attempt to hack online accounts.
What happens if you are accused of an offence by paedophile hunters?
Depending on the evidence the vigilante group has against you, if you’re apprehended on suspicion of attempting to sexually exploit a child, the police may interview you under caution or arrest you and take you into custody while they investigate further.
The police will gather digital evidence, interview witnesses, and question you to get your side of the story.
If there is insufficient evidence, the police may release you with no further action. However, if there is enough evidence to charge you with a crime, then you will either be released on bail or remanded in custody until your court date, depending on the severity of the alleged offence.
If you plead not guilty and your case goes to trial, you will need a specialist solicitor to help you present a defence. Cases only tend to go to court if there is a realistic prospect of conviction, so if the evidence makes this likely, your solicitor’s aim may be to reduce the sentence.
Could you go to jail if you’re caught by paedophile hunters?
The potential sentence depends on the specific offence (or offences), which could include:
- Engaging in sexual communications with a child
- Inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
- Facilitating the commission of a child sex offence
- Attempting to procure indecent images
The maximum sentence for these offences can vary from 2–10 years in prison or more, with penalties for less severe offences including medium to high-level community orders.
What should you do if you have been targeted by paedophile hunters?
If you or someone close to you is being targeted by a paedophile hunting group, you should notify the police if they aren’t already aware. You or your family may be at risk of violence by vigilantes, so the police will be obliged to help protect you from danger.
Any evidence gathered or footage filmed by the group should be shared with the police, who may arrest you or interview you under caution while they look into the validity of the group’s allegations against you.
This can be a distressing experience, but it can be made easier by seeking appropriate legal support. The consequences of allegations, charges, or convictions of sexual offences against children can be severe and lifelong, which it’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced solicitor on your side.
