Paedo hunters go into hiding

An anti-paedophile group have been forced into hiding after violent clashes with suspected sex offenders. The Society Against Paedophiles, who launched three years ago, have taken their highprofile patrols off the streets. Now they say they plan to continue working underground after claiming members were being put at risk by identifying themselves. SAP hit the headlines last year when the Record revealed supermarket giants Lidl had provided them with night-vision goggles for their operations. The group had a squad of blacked out people carriers bearing their logo which they used to monitor convicted and suspected paedophiles living in communities. The vans were frequently seen parked outside housing where they believed a sex offender was living. However, while SAP claimed to have the backing of the public, their presence in communities led to a string of attacks. The vans' windows were smashed, doors glued and SAP members threatened during stand-offs with the people they targeted. [...]

Jobless Paul, a single dad of two boys, from Edinburgh, said: "There have been a number of incidents where people have attacked our vehicles and fights have broken out between our members and friends of known paedophiles. We've taken the vehicles off the streets and shut down our website. But the society feel we have achieved significant results in forcing paedophiles out of Edinburgh." [...]

A police source said: "Sometimes these kind of groups can target the wrong person and innocent lives are ruined. They don't have the full facts and this creates problems."

source: 'Paedo Hunters Go Into Hiding' by Kevan Christie; www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=paedo-hunters-go-into-hiding--&method=full&objectid=18871276&siteid=66633-name_page.html; The Daily Record; 7 April 2007