Police monitor 'paedophile' Facebook

Published Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Comments
Toggle font size
Print

Police in Limavady are monitoring a Facebook page which claims to identify paedophiles in the Co Londonderry town.

Police monitor 'paedophile' Facebook
Investigations continue into the incident. (© Getty)

The website, which is 'liked' by more than 1,000 people, is being used to discuss the names and addresses of individuals living in the area.

A number of threatening remarks have been made.

Local officers said they have identified the owner of the page have "given advice and guidance on what is and what is not appropriate to be posted in the public domain".

A statement from Limavady Area Commander, Chief Inspector Sam Donaldson, said the PSNI will continue to monitor the site to ensure it "does not breach legislation".

He continued: "The management of sex offenders is understandably a very emotive and concerning issue for the community and we would like to reassure the public that it is an issue police are fully committed to dealing with in the most protective and professional way.

"All the agencies that work within the public protection arrangements including the Police, Probation Board, Social Services and the Housing Executive aim to keep local communities safer and protect the public.

"These arrangements have been inspected by the Criminal Justice Inspector, who paid tribute to the agencies saying that at an operational level the arrangements worked well.

"Public protection is our priority and everything we do is to protect the public from crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour and to make communities feel safer."

SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat has said the Facebook page "is an affront to democracy" as it is "judge and jury on people who may be entirely innocent of any crime".

He called for new guidelines for social network sites making it clear when the benefits of social network sites ends and harassment and bullying begins.

He said: "The expansion of social network sites is a good thing which encourages dialogue between people and permits individuals and groups to raise serious causes which need to be supported.

Although much of the information on this particular page is already in the public domain through news reporting, we have a problem if and when individuals begin naming individuals on these sites with absolutely no evidence whatsoever - then they have stepped over the lines of common decency and possibly the law.

John Dallat

"It is my belief that this site is well over the line of what is acceptable and the police should have it closed down immediately," he added.

He said that the web has been used in the past to create fear in the community and target individuals.

"Communities must guard against those who masquerade as their protectors but, in their behaviour, prove to be anything but," he said.

Mr Dallat said that the management of sexual offenders is a matter for the police and judicial system.

Police said anyone who has general concerns around how sex offenders are managed should contact their local Police Station or Neighbourhood Officer on 0845 600 8000.

© UTV News
Comments Comments
21 Comments
Debra Lucas in USA wrote (249 days ago):
There needs to be more than what has been done in this horrific field of criminal activities. These children needs more protection. This crime seems to be overlooked by police because police don't recognize the information highway when given a tip of crimes against these poor children. There needs to be more efficient skills when tracking down these criminals. What is so wrong with people helping to catch these criminals? I am a mother of four and I am a victim, so I do know what these people helping to make notice of pedophiles trolling the internet for their next victim. I would like to thank them for the help.
Donna in Belfast wrote (251 days ago):
In reply that these people have paid for their crimes, the victims live with the effects ALL their lives. It cannot be assumed that because they go to jail (sentences are ridiiculous anyway) they can see that they have done wrong. Sadly unless they realise the damage and hurt they cause they will reoffend and often do.
seamas in belfast wrote (252 days ago):
The problem with this type of public register is this. Paedophiles need to know if they’ve been uncovered or not. How convenient if they can check a public register. Also if a new paedophile arrives in an area he’ll want to contact existing paedophiles. How convenient if there’s a public register he can consult. The people who support this type of publicly available resource always imagine that only good people will use it. It doesn’t seem to occur to them that bad people might use it too.
Elle in Coleraine wrote (252 days ago):
Jeff Reynolds in Larne, if you or your son so unfortunately slept with a 15/16 year old young woman then you would be one of these "scumbags" too. Some cases where men are put on this register are certainly not the same as molesting a young child.
whatifs in whereever wrote (253 days ago):
It will only will be a matter of time probably before when someone could post of some innocent persons details with the view to giving them some flack for something and who will be found to be needing blamed for that then? No, a bad idea to be potentially easy used in the wrong hands. It is a Facebook page after all, and anything almost on Facebook gets viewed by lots of folk!
POST A COMMENT:
Name:  
Email address*:    
Location:  
Validation:
House Rules:  
Your Comment:  
[All comments are moderated and will not appear immediately. Your name, location and comment will be displayed on this page if your post passes moderation.]
MOST POPULAR GALLERIES
On the rocks
Wed 01 May 2013
4x4 in Ballycastle harbour
Thu 02 May 2013