A PLANNED march against paedophiles has been warned to keep out of Dorchester.

Campaigners are aiming to hold the action in the town centre shopping streets at 2pm on Saturday, February 27, to step up their demands for changes in the law about child sex attackers.

The rally comes after they paraded through Weymouth town centre to order paedophiles out of Dorset and to call for a ‘Sarah’s Law’.

But people in Dorchester said that although they appreciated the concerns of parents and marchers, it wasn’t right for the county town.

Gary Beresford, aged 76, of Monmouth Road, said: “I can understand why they are doing it, but I don’t think it is a good idea.

“There are ways and means of doing things. The march may also need policing, when they could be doing something better.”

Town crier Alistair Chisholm added: “It is a free country and they have the right to march about an issue.

“But I’m not sure that a lot of people in Dorchester will be joining in. I don’t like the idea of these marches as they have a tendency to frighten people and make them start to suspect their neighbours.”

The march will go from Cornhill, through South Street, Trinity Street and back to Cornhill.

The march in Weymouth at the end of January was sparked after paedophile David Payne was found to be living in Weymouth – despite being banned from being close to a beach.

About 50 protesters handed out leaflets and T-shirts as they walked through Weymouth town centre chanting ‘Paedos out’.

They want Sarah’s Law to give more information about the proximity of child sex attackers.

Inspector Les Fry, of Dorchester Police, said he would ‘discourage’ the march but insisted there would be an ‘appropriate’ police presence if it went ahead.

He said: “I would discourage it. It is not in the public interest as we know where paedophiles live for the most part and we wouldn’t want them to go under ground.

“These people have to live somewhere and we can’t move them all to a little commune.”

He added: “If they do choose to march it will be appropriately monitored by police.”

Daniel Riggs, 29, from Fortuneswell on Portland, is one of the main organisers of the march.

Mum Stacey Broughton, 24, from Southill, Weymouth, and Michelle Ross, 30, from Wyke Regis, set up a Facebook page and online petition for Sarah’s Law after the David Payne episode.

Coun Molly Rennie said: “A march is not the right way to approach the problem.

“I am sure people would support a Sarah’s Law and but I don’t think this is the right way to go about it.”

Derek Beauchamp, who is chairman of Dorchester Civic Society, said: “I personally won’t be joining the march.

“I can understand the concerns but this kind of action can drive paedophiles underground, which is the counter effect to what they want to do.”

Coun Kate Hebditch added: “I don’t think this march would be terribly helpful.”

About 6,000 people have signed up to the Facebook page so far and about 600 have signed the petition calling for Sarah’s Law.

Mr Riggs said: “It is not a witch hunt or vigilante march.

“It is just a walk through the town centre and is more about raising awareness to get more signatures on the petition.”

He added: “The walk is for people to say that they want this law where they can have their minds put at ease when a new person comes into the area or into the family. When the law comes through, it will help prevent witch hunts and false allegations.”

Mr Riggs also hopes to hold a march in Bournemouth and then go to Downing Street in London to present the petition.