Police increase area patrols following ‘paedophile hunter’ sting in Bath

Avon and Somerset Police has stepped up patrols in the Whiteway area of Bath, following a number of incidents after a ‘paedophile hunter’ sting at a property in Blagdon Park on Saturday 6th April.

At 5.30pm yesterday, Monday 8th April 8, police were called to reports of a public order incident in Blagdon Park in Whiteway, Bath.

The occupants were removed from the property, and the windows boarded up, in order to ensure public safety following a large group of people gathering outside and items being thrown at the property.

Just after 11.30pm, officers were called to reports of suspicious activity. On arrival, they found the property had been burgled and a significant amount of damage had been done.

An investigation is now underway in relation to the burglary.

Blagdon Park-
Please be aware of the increased patrols in the area to provide public reassurance following an incident on the 7th April.
If you have any concerns please come and speak to us.

— ASPolice Bath and NE Somerset (@ASPBathNES) April 9, 2019

In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said: “We are aware that this is the same address where an arrest was made on April 6 in connection with reports from a paedophile hunter group.

“An investigation is also ongoing in relation to this report.

“Protecting children is a policing priority – nationally every month more than 400 people are arrested for child sexual abuse and we protect more than 500 children from harm.

“While police will not work with so called paedophile hunter groups, because they don’t offer any protection to victims and their evidence is often poor, we have a responsibility to investigate evidence that a serious crime has been committed, regardless of where it comes from.”

If you have information about children at risk you can contact Crimestoppers, call police on 101 or in an emergency, always call 999.