SEX CRIME SITE IS CONDEMNED

Perth Against Predators say they’re not vigilantes

Those behind a controversial online page designed to raise awareness of alleged sex crimes in Perth and Kinross say they are not attempting to encourage vigilantism.

‘Perth Against Predators’ appeared on social networking site Facebook earlier this month.

A spokesperson for the page – which is ‘liked’ by more than 1600 people – said: “This page has been set up to make people in Perth more aware of potential sexual predators living amongst us. Perth has a hell of a lot of sexual deviants for such a small place and our aim is to let everyone know who they are.”

The page representative added: “Of course the police will be made aware if we find out new information relating [to] sexual crimes. No contact has been made with the police as of yet, though.

“This is definitely not a page to incite hate, although some people’s comments suggest otherwise. That is definitely not the intention of this page.”

Posts on the page have been shared more than 1000 times and seen by 90,000 users of the social media site.

Councillor Peter Barrett – convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s housing and

communities committee – condemned the page.

The Liberal Democrat elected member said: “This sort of Facebook page does nothing to protect children. It seems designed to inflame members of the community towards violence and encourage vigilantism.

“There is no moderation of comments inciting hatred and violence against suspected offenders. The danger with this sort of site is that people are wrongfully accused or misidentified.

“There is a real risk that the police and criminal justice services will lose touch with people who have been identified and their whereabouts publicised.

“In Perth and Kinross, there are strong multiagency public protection arrangements for the management of offenders who present a risk to the community.

“We don’t need Facebook pages like Perth Against Predators.”

Police Scotland said it has only recently become aware of the page and did not wish to comment further at this stage.

The Crown Office said it was unable to comment on the page.