Police force that caught schoolgirl Sarah Payne’s killer gave nearly 100 paedos warning over child porn pics
Sixty pervs received letters telling them their behaviour was being monitored following new policy launched in 2015
THE police force that caught schoolgirl Sarah Payne’s murderer visits paedophiles to warn them about their behaviour.
The Sun can reveal 90 perverts suspected of viewing the lowest level of child abuse images last year were visited at home by officers.
A total of 60 were handed letters telling them their behaviour was being monitored. Some were arrested later after further investigation led to computers being seized or examined.
Sussex Police brought convicted child sex offender Roy Whiting, now 58, to justice in 2001 after he abducted and murdered Sarah, eight, in July 2000.
But it launched its new policy in 2015.
The force has claimed the tactic is only aimed at “very, very, very infrequent” viewers of child abuse images.
It insists every suspect is risk-assessed, with letters never posted and always handed over in person by an officer.
But it comes after one of the country’s most senior officers sparked fury by saying paedophiles should not be jailed.
Norfolk Chief Constable Simon Bailey said forces were now so swamped by child abuse allegations they could no longer cope.
He claimed rehab was a better option for “very, very low risk offenders” if they were not in contact with kids.
Sussex Police said its approach allowed them to focus on those suspected of viewing more serious images or those who may carry out a contact offence.