UK: Paedophile hunters do not violate human rights

The UK’s Supreme Court ruled that gathering evidence through using covert operations ‘‘paedophile hunter’ groups cannot be considered a breach of individual’s human rights. 

It may be mentioned that an appeal was filed by Mark Sutherland, a paedophile, against an anti-grooming group in Glasgow, where he appealed that this sting operation conducted by the group breached the respect for his private life and correspondence under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

In a unanimous judgement, Lord Sales stated, ‘The reprehensible nature of the communications means they do not attract protection under article 8(1). The interests of children have priority over any interest a paedophile could have in being allowed to engage in criminal conduct.’