EastEnders has been forced to defend its current storyline revolving around Stuart Highway.
The relative newcomer to Walford has revealed he is a vigilante paedophile hunter, and has enlisted the help of his reluctant brother Halfway and his best friend Mick Carter.
However, The National Police Chiefs’ Council have criticised the BBC soap for encouraging viewers to take justice into their own hands.
Read more: EastEnders spoiler: Rainie frames Donna after huge argument
Police chiefs have warned viewers of the BBC soap NOT to copy the paedophile-hunting storyline.
This is amid fears that they will take the law into their own hands, and put themselves in danger in the process.
A spokesperson for the NPCC told The Sun Online: “We understand the desire to protect children, but any member of the public who has information about child sexual abuse, online or otherwise, should get in contact with the police so we can investigate and bring people to justice.”
Don’t miss out: Three steps to ensure you see all ED!’s latest news on Facebook
The statement continued: “Online child abuse activists are taking risks they don’t understand and can undermine police investigations.
“Most importantly, unlike our officers, they have no way of safeguarding child victims.”
However, a representative for EastEnders denied the soap is “glamourising” the issue, telling The Sun Online that Stuart’s storyline will end with him realising he’s in the wrong.
They said: “At no point is EastEnders encouraging or glamourising predator hunting, in fact viewers will see the extremely negative consequences of Stuart’s actions this week.”
Viewers know that Stuart was abused by a guard in jail, which is why he’s dedicated his life to tracking down paedophiles.
However, this week Stuart targets an innocent man, which has dire consequences.
While many EastEnders fans disliked Stuart when he first arrived in Walford, some warmed to him after he revealed his abusive past and his vendetta to expose predators.
Be prepared for a summer to remember on #EastEnders. pic.twitter.com/5nEReHEEE1
— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) June 22, 2018
The new EastEnders trailer hints that there’s a more sinister side to Stuart, though.
Linda seems to have a history with Mick’s old mate and she’s seen calling him “evil”.
Is he Walford’s new villain?
Do you like Stuart’s character? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!