A MAN has been arrested for child grooming offences after being confronted by vigilante paedophile hunters.

The group, who call themselves “Volunteer Child Protection Enforcers” met the 28-year-old man, who came to Southend from London, outside a hotel in Westcliff Parade, Southend, on Sunday night.

They streamed the confrontation live on social media site Facebook. It lasted for 30 minutes before Essex Police officers came and arrested the suspect.

In the video, a part of which has been seen by the Echo, the group accuses the man of sending inappropriate messages to someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

They claim the person he was messaging was actually a decoy set up by them to snare suspected sex offenders.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “A 28 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempting to meet a girl under the age of 16 following grooming.

“He was arrested in Marine Avenue, Westcliff at about 7.50pm on Sunday.

“He has been released on bail until March 17.”

In September last year, figures obtained by the BBC showed an increase in the number of cases where evidence gathered by paedophile hunters is being used.

However, Essex Police have consistently dissuaded such groups from operating in this way and instead urge people to contact the police if they have information.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We strongly deter anyone from vigilante behaviour at any level. They could be acting upon inaccurate information and putting innocent people at serious risk. Anyone who has a genuine concern about potential criminal activity should always contact us so that we can investigate and not take the law into their own hands.”

The NSPCC has also spoken out against self-styled vigilantes tracking down suspected sex offenders and says this must be done by the proper authorities.