Police have criticized a group that has been posting videos of themselves trying to catch suspected paedophiles. The group pretends to be underage teenagers online and allegedly tries to lure men into meeting them in Tauranga, where they confront them.
In a video, the group is seen chasing a man in a car park in Papamoa and calling him a “pedo.” According to police, this group is involved in attempts to catch people who try to contact minors online.
Police warned that the group could face legal consequences for their actions. They advised against taking the law into one’s own hands because it puts everyone at risk. Police emphasized that the group cannot know if the people they are targeting are guilty, and they might harm innocent individuals.
Additionally, these actions could interfere with ongoing police investigations. The group reportedly forced men to strip and assaulted them. In an anonymous communication with SunLive, the group claimed they believe many paedophiles are on the streets. They mentioned receiving numerous messages from adult men after pretending to be 15, with some still wanting to meet them despite being told their age.
This type of content has gained popularity on streaming platforms like Kick in the past year. Popular content creators have gained millions of views while hunting “child predators.”
