A vigilante group swooped on a man they suspected of grooming a child in Workington.
Members of the online child exploitation group gathered on Belle Isle Street to confront the man yesterday and posted a video online of their actions.
They reported him to the police and officers said in a statement last night that a 39-year-old man, of no fixed address, had been arrested on suspicion of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Police were called to the incident at around 3.45pm.
The statement added: “Officers are aware of a video posted online by an online child sexual exploitation activist group, and would like to remind people – especially online – not to act in a way which could compromise the course of justice, this includes posting images and details on social media or websites.
“Cumbria Constabulary will act appropriately on any information which is reported. However, the Constabulary’s position on so-called paedophile hunter groups reflects the position of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, in that we understand the desire to protect children but any member of the public who has information about child sexual abuse, online or otherwise, should contact police so it can be investigated and bring offenders to justice.”
