Paedophile-shaming group removed after criticism

The Facebook group, set up in September, was removed this week by its administrators

A Guernsey Facebook group publishing information about people it claimed were paedophiles has been removed from the platform by its administrators following criticism from police.

The group, set up on 9 September, published names, personal information and photos of people on the island it claimed were paedophiles, including some who had not been charged or convicted of any crime.

Police said they were aware of the page and asked members of the public to "act responsibly".

The page was closed before the BBC was able to contact any of its anonymous administrators for a comment.

Deputy Chief Police Officer Richard Bell said the force welcomed support from the community "to keep us all safe and secure" but urged "the utmost caution when sharing private or unsubstantiated information in public".

He said: "The victims at the centre of any allegation should always be considered when discussing incidents.

"False or misleading information can undermine investigations, traumatise victims, and criminalise innocent people, all of which damage the fabric of our communities and make the job of managing offenders in the community more challenging.

"It takes courage to report a crime, especially where there is significant trauma, and our efforts need to be focused on providing an environment where victims have the confidence to report incidents to the police and feel supported and empowered throughout their journey."

Mr Bell said the public should contact police if they had any information about a crime.

The group updated its user policies late last week and the page appears to have been taken down earlier this week by its administrators.