A confidential list, from the 1970s, of over 300 individuals linked to the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), a group that publicly advocated for the legalization of sex with children was obtained by BBC. Investigations revealed that a small number of people on the list may still have contact with children through paid or voluntary roles.
However, no evidence has been found to suggest that any of them have committed abuse.
The list, spanning several dozen typed pages, includes 316 names—almost all men—alongside their addresses. While the majority of those listed were based in the UK, the document also contained details of individuals from other parts of Western Europe, Australia, and the United States.
What was Paedophile Information Exchange?
The Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) was established in 1974 during a period of significant social change. Its leaders attempted to align their cause with feminist, anti-racist, and gay rights movements.
Membership in the organization was not illegal and it was at a cost £4 annually and included a subscription to its magazine.
Over the next decade, PIE representatives publicly advocated for the idea that adults and children had a “human right” to engage in sexual relationships, controversially claiming that children as young as four could give consent.
Despite the public visibility of its leaders, the identities of rank-and-file members were kept secret.
Are any of the members in contact with kids?
Of men who may still be in contact with children professionally, none have been found to have any criminal convictions, suggesting they could have passed extensive background checks when applying for jobs.
These men are part of a larger group of nearly 70 individuals on the list as having worked in roles likely to involve contact with minors, BBC reported.
Teachers make up half of this group, with work addresses typed next to some names. The remaining individuals include social workers, sports coaches, youth workers, doctors, clergy, lay preachers, and military officers involved in youth activities.