A FIFE police chief has said vigilantes have been organising protests over social media in the hope that sex offenders would cause harm to themselves.

Chief Superintendent Derek McEwan said the rising number of demonstrations against paedophiles had led to them probing their organisers for inciting anti-social behaviour.

In a report for members of Fife Council's environment and protective services committee, Chief Superintendent McEwan stated: "Throughout June 2020, Fife Division has seen an increase in protests being carried out at various address in Fife targeted at the home addresses of registered sex offenders.

"The group instigating the protests intensified their efforts and looked to escalate their actions, with the aim that the offenders would cause harm to themselves.

"These protests are being managed through public-facing social media sites, where they actively seek assistance from members of the public to locate offenders and arrange protests.

"These incidents have led to mass protests, with individuals having to be removed from their homes. Offenders have subsequently been moved at short notice and without being able to conduct appropriate suitability screening. This has caused heightened tensions within the community and increased media attention.

"Due to the growing threat of the actions from the group, Fife Division instigated an investigation in relation to persons inciting anti-social behaviour. This resulted in an offender being identified and charged in relation to anti-social behaviour offences."

In July, the Press reported comments by local Chief Inspector Tom Brown who said protests from angry mobs in West Fife were undermining their efforts to keep the community safe.

He said "innocent people" had been caught up in incidents with women and children exposed to intimidation and threats.

Protestors had gathered outside an address in The Maltings in Inverkeithing on July 16 and a similar incident happened at Blamey Crescent in Cowdenbeath earlier in the week.

A mob had also gathered outside the premises of a business in Inverkeithing on June 30 because they believed a suspected paedophile lived there.

"Protecting the public is a priority for Police Scotland and I want to reassure communities that all reasonable steps are taken to protect them," said Chief Inspector Brown.

"While many of the protesters believe they are acting with good intentions, others attend to seemingly cause anti-social behaviour and anxiety amongst the community, with their motivations being unclear.

"Such behaviour simply undermines the significant efforts undertaken by various partner agencies to manage risk within the community."