Two vigilante paedophile hunters have been arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer and false imprisonment.

This comes less than a week after police warned the public against “taking the law into their own hands” following a series of sting operations by paedophile hunting groups.

The two men, one a 43-year-old from Blackheath, and the second a 34-year-old from Maidstone, were arrested by Kent Police around midday on April 21.

The man from Blackheath was also arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply. The two men have since been bailed.

Members of these vigilante groups, such as The Hunted One, posed as children online where suspects groomed what they believed to be children.

The group would then agree to meet with the groomer for what they would believe would be a sexual encounter only to be greeted by the vigilantes in their live-streamed sting operation.

A recent sting operation at Bluewater Shopping Centre resulted in a fight after two passersby saw the sting operation and attacked the suspected paedophile.

READ MORE: Police warn against vigilantism following 'paedophile hunter' sting at Bluewater

Chief Superintendent Thomas Richards, who is head of Kent Police’s public protection unit, had warned people against such vigilantism.

He said: “Evidence-gathering is a very specialist job and can take considerable time and skill to ensure it is of sufficient quality to bring a high-risk offender to justice.

“Although seemingly well-meaning, this can significantly hinder our work, compromise ongoing investigations and negate months of investigative work.

“There is also the risk that it can potentially identify people who are completely innocent and mistakenly associate them with grooming offences.

“I would add that whilst police have resources and expertise to protect the vulnerable and people with mental health issues, members of the public generally do not, and can cause such individuals to be placed at serious risk of harm.”