Paedophile Hunters: The Rise Of The Vigilantes: What channel is it on? Can I stream it and what's it all about?

We take a closer look at this documentary that investigates the rise of  vigilante groups who, without official endorsement from the police, target suspected paedophiles.
Journalist Livvy Haydock investigates paedophile vigilante groups.Journalist Livvy Haydock investigates paedophile vigilante groups.
Journalist Livvy Haydock investigates paedophile vigilante groups.

What Channel is it on? BBC Three.

When Can I watch it? It's available from 10am on Sunday, January 27.

How can I watch it? BBC Three is available online through computers, laptops and mobile phones - or your telly! It's also available to watch through BBC iPlayer.

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What's it all about? With access to two UK-based paedophile hunting groups, Guardians Of The North from Sunderland and Predator Exposure in Leeds, journalist Livvy Haydock observes their methods and stings to discover first-hand whether these groups are helping or hindering the police in their attempts to administer justice.

What's the background? The police have publicly said that they are struggling to tackle the increase in online child sex predators. The hunters say they are trying to help tackle the threat.

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OK, so what's going on? While some of the evidence that the hunters gather is used in some cases to charge suspects, the police are concerned about people being wrongly targeted and hurt. As well as some groups naming and shaming people online before police can assess any evidence.

Do we go behind the secnes? Livvy speaks to founders and members of the hunter groups, their decoys used to catch suspected paedophiles online, the former head of the Crown Prosecution Service in the North West, and relatives of those wrongly accused.

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What will I find out? By taking the law into their own hands, are the hunters actually making potential convictions more difficult for the police? Or are they helping capture predators who might otherwise slip through the net?