Vigilante fear over internet 'pervert site'
A website which publishes details of convicted and suspected Lancashire rapists and paedophiles has sparked fears of vigilante attacks.
South Ribble MP David Borrow also believes the site could lead to cases of mistaken identity, as it contains details of people who have been charged with offences but not convicted – or otherwise – by a court.
The website, which the Lancashire Evening Post is not naming, details scores of rape and paedophilia cases in the county.
Mr Borrow said: "It is dangerous if it is inaccurate.
"If you think they have published details of someone who has been charged, but not convicted, and they have been falsely accused, we have got someone labelled as a sex offender who has never been convicted.
"My big concern would be that – and also it causes a potential problem for the police in that they have got a duty to protect individuals who have served their sentence.
"If someone feels they can take the law into their own hands it causes a problem for the individual and also the police," he added.
The website is a name-and-shame-style page, which publishes details of people who have been dealt with by UK courts and names people who have been charged – but not necessarily convicted.
Other categories of crime outlined on the site include murder, domestic abuse, animal cruelty, terrorism and violence. But the site owners claim they are performing a public service.
In a statement, a site spokesman said: "We are aware of the concerns recently raised regarding vigilante attacks. The majority of the cases reported are already in the public domain.
"Because of this, we are unsure why our website would be any different to other news outlets reporting the news.
"On the subject of vigilante attacks, we must ask ourselves what is it that stops you and I from taking to the streets and committing such vigilante offences?
"The point is that a vigilante who decides to take the law into his or her own hands, is a criminal, and equally deserves to be on our website," the spokesman added.
The police declined to comment.
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Thursday 29 July 2010
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