Victims say justice failed as convicted paedophile granted bail near playground

London’s Victims’ Commissioner Andrea Simon told Radio 4 that the decision to bail Zafer Dogan, a 32-year-old convicted of producing thousands of sexual images with AI, to a flat overlooking a playground “grossly failed” victims and their families. Dogan, sentenced to two years and four months, had taken more than 5,000 photos, many from his bedroom window, and used AI to digitally alter images of 33 women and two children.

Despite police and prosecutors repeatedly opposing bail, a judge allowed him to return to the community, raising concerns about prison capacity versus victim impact. Simon urged the Government to launch a multi-agency review of police, crown prosecutors and courts on information sharing and risk assessment. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley publicly criticised the system, saying pressure to reduce remand numbers endangers the public. The Government reiterated that bail should be “necessary and proportionate” and that the law aims to protect victims, witnesses and the public.