How long does it take for the police to arrest a child predator?

With information like this to hand it is important to consider the broader picture, you say that you have knowledge of him sharing files to over 200 hundred other pedophiles. This suggests that there is an organised group of persons trafficking in this sort of material. Police may well be trying to gather more information regarding the rest of the group. There are many methods of doing this but you have to understand that this type of person/ group are particularly paranoid about Law Enforcement. They share information and monitor media in an effort to protect themselves. They see themselves as a persecuted few and feel tht they are at war with law enforcement.

The truth is that there is a truly tisted psycho-pathology with these people. If it means that the broader group can be brought down, give the police some time.

In the same way that these people protect there 'collections' as it were police like to protect their methodologies so that they are harder to circumvent.

Trust me.... we do take it seriously but to act quickly is not always best practice.

That being said are you aware if he has been involved in any type of contact offences with children? if so do not hesitate and speak to your police. The name of the game is saving the children we can identify

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The police should have responded quickly and professionally to your report of a very serious crime.

You don't say how you came to know about this crime - From the personal interaction detail you describe, I guess through some kind of online chat?

You should contact the police immediately and demand confirmation that they are investigating your claim seriously and provide them with any evidence they need to further that investigation.

You sound a bit vague, talking about a "possible pedophile" who is then definitely a definite distributor of child porn? It sounds a bit weird but the police would follow it up anyway.

The police should at least confirm the progress of the investigation if asked .

Crimes have a statute of limitations, but within that, police can spend as much time as they desire to gather evidence. If they take evidence from ISPs and follow a proper chain of custody the arrest could be as far away as they need it to assure conviction within the speedy trial requirements. Once an arrest is made, speedy trial starts ticking. Obviously with predators, the arrests will happen quickly because there are defenseless victims, but with fraudsters, it might be longer, because it is a property crime and somewhat more difficult to prove.

They must have sufficient evidence to obtain a warrant. To do that, they have to convince a judge that there is "probable cause" -- i.e. enough evidence and info that there is a good likelihood of finding what they are looking for. It is important not to tip off these people downloading porn, etc. since they often operate in rings and it really is necessary that the police get them all, or at least as many as possible.

Did you give them any evidence or convince them how you know what you know? They have to be able to distinguish between crank calls, people with a grudge, and legit info, so it is up to the caller or informant to explain how you know, what evidence you can provide them, etc.

They have to be painstakingly careful or the courts will throw out the evidence.

I wish it so so simple as to go in, check his computer, and shoot him in the back of the head if he has it, but there are too many bleeding hearts that believe he should have all of the rights that a victim would be denied.

They can't just go on your sayso. They need to investigate and make sure they have a case against this creep before they take steps.

You wouldn't want some one accusing you and getting arrested before it was confirmed.