The UK's highest ranked police chief has slammed Labour's justice reforms, claiming the system puts criminals first. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said “children should be put first, not the paedophile” as he warned that “dangerous and prolific offenders” are now being “routinely” released on bail despite the risk they pose.
Sir Mark launched his unprecedented attack as it emerged how child sex offender Zafer Dogan, who admitted taking thousands of photographs of children and women in a playground opposite his home before using AI to turn them into explicit porn images, had been repeatedly freed by judges to his home address where much of his sickening offending took place.
Repeatedly bailed despite objections
In a shocking criminal justice failure, Dogan, 32, pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and was bailed three times back to his home despite police and CPS objections – leaving him free for over seven weeks whilst he awaited sentence.
The case comes after Simon Levy, a registered sex offender with a history of attacks dating back years, committed an escalating series of violent crimes throughout 2025 while repeatedly being granted bail or released under investigation by authorities, before murdering two women.
Public confidence under threat
Sir Mark described how public confidence in the justice system is under threat, saying it was “little surprise” victims were deserting prosecutions in droves after seeing their attackers let loose.
His warning comes a week before 700 offenders are due to be set free from prisons in the first tranche of Labour's early release scheme, designed to ease chronic prison overcrowding caused by years of underinvestment by the Conservatives.
In Dogan's case, prosecutors opposed bail three times with evidence from experienced child protection police officers who provided a detailed risk assessment to the courts, but their appeals were unsuccessful and Dogan was able to return to his north London community.
Timeline of bail decisions
- 16th July – 1st arrest
- 4th Aug – 2nd arrest
- 5th Aug – charged and remanded in custody by police
- 6th Aug - 1st appearance Highbury Corner Magistrates Court – pled guilty to all offences.
- 7th Aug – Granted bail to home address by judge at Wood Green Crown Court
- 7th Sept – Granted further bail following hearing Wood Green Crown Court at request of Police and CPS.
- 11th Sept - Snaresbrook Crown Court - Judge refused to sentence pushing back to Wood Green Crown Court on 23rd Sept 2026. Bail granted.
- 23rd Sept - Wood Green Crown Court sentencing adjourned.
- 24th Sept - Sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court.
The predator, who used AI to digitally alter images by removing clothing from children in school uniform, took photographs from his bedroom window and also followed hundreds of women and children as young as seven, spending hours lurking in his car to secretly take pictures.
He also amassed 1,800 indecent images online - including extreme pornographic material and bestiality - but judges refused to remand him into custody even after he had admitted nine offences relating to indecent images, extreme pornography and obstructing police.
Victims forced to flee
As a result, his victims' families had to flee their homes, taking their children out of schools, quitting their jobs and relocating to protect them from the paedophile who continued to seek contact.
On Thursday Judge Alexander Jacobs jailed Dogan for two years and four months, describing him as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' who charmed victims. The mother of one victim said: “I feel like we are on the run - yet we aren't the sex offender. How can a court put him back so close to his victims?”
Another parent said: “Our lives are turned upside down for ever. Yet no one protects us.”
Speaking outside Wood Green Crown Court, Sir Mark said: “The children should be put first, not the paedophile. Pressure to reduce the remand population has contributed to more dangerous and prolific offenders being granted bail routinely despite strong submissions from the police and CPS.
Victims' statements
Victim 1 said: "I would often see Zafer sat outside on his phone, but didn’t think anything of it. Whilst I did not know Zafer very well he was always very friendly to me. Even after he was arrested in July 2026, he did not change how he was when he saw me. Which I now find concerning, it seems brazen. I did not know then what he had done to my daughter but Zafer knew yet seemed to enjoy interacting with me. It’s like he has no shame."
She added: "My world fell apart. My daughter is clearly a child. Visibly, emotionally, mentally. Just a little girl. Innocent, happy, carefree. When police came to visit she was excited to show them her school certificate for maths. How Zafer Dogan can look at her and think she is a sexual object is terrifying."
Victim 2 said: "I’m a mum to a girl, she’s studious, shy and very sweet. I have known the Dogan family for years. I got an unexpected call from a police lady. She asked if she could come and visit and explained it was about safeguarding my children."
She continued: "The police told me that images of my child had been found in Zafer's phone and that some are of my child without clothes and in sexual positions. I felt sick. It was like I’d been punched in the gut. Everything went blurry."
She added: "I took my children and left. I left my home and stayed with family and am now urgently rehoused in temporary accommodation. It is a complete life change. I left almost everything I own so I could leave quickly."
Officer's response
Sir Mark said: "Victims are left fearful, communities are left feeling less safe and confidence in the justice system is undermined. This case is just another example of victims being let down."
He said officers were “routinely” seeing the consequences of “pressure” on courts not to remand criminals due to prison overcrowding.
A Government spokesman said: “The law is clear that bail should only be used where necessary and proportionate, including to protect victims, witnesses and the public while investigations and court proceedings are ongoing.”
Investigation details
Dogan was first arrested on July 16 this year on suspicion of offences involving indecent images of children after the Met received information about his sordid online activity.
Dogan attempted to flee from officers and tried to throw away his mobile phone, which contained vital evidence, hurling it in the front garden of a nearby property. But after being detained by officers, the phone was recovered with the assistance of a specialist police dog.
It was subjected to a detailed forensic examination using specialist technology, leading to the discovery of approximately 1,800 indecent images of children and extreme pornographic material, including bestiality.
Further examination by the investigation team revealed that Dogan had also taken more than 5,000 images of women and girls in public places. These individuals had been carrying out everyday activities, including playing in public play areas and travelling to and from school. Dogan had then altered a large number of these images to create sexualised content by altering clothing and appearance.
He was re-arrested once the evidence was gathered the following month but was then handed bail – leaving him free to potentially keep offending.
A change in the wording of the Bail Act, which came into force in March 2026, amended the test for deciding whether someone should be bailed to “no real prospect of immediate custody”. Previously it had been the broader “no real prospect of custody”.
Following his sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court, Met officers are now working to identify his victims and are appealing from women and parents in the Enfield area who may have noticed anyone filming or photographing them or their children.
PC Natalie Scagliarini, who led the investigation, said: “This is a deeply distressing case. Dogan’s actions were predatory and dangerous. He targeted the most innocent of scenes – children playing or out walking with their parents – and manipulated the photos he took in the most sickening way.
“The nature of his offending has understandably left those who have learned of it feeling unsettled and violated, not knowing when they might be being watched or photographed and for what purpose.
“We remain committed to protecting women and children and bringing those who seek to exploit them before the courts, and I thank those affected by Dogan’s offending whose bravery and support has helped us to achieve today's result.”
