Archnut,
Mr. Yuill did have a lot of contacts with paedophiles, especially with well known paedophile Tom O'Carroll (he was the president of PIE).
University only suggested that Mr. Yuill should change methods of collecting of data when scandal was discovered (that's all info I got from newspapers).
I think that the investigation was questioning did Mr. Yuill have right to present himself falsely in relation to research (I think that he presented himself as a paedophile to other paedophiles) and police said that nothing was done illegal in that respect.
There are many unanswered questions regarding the thesis and its evaluation as well as of real intentions of Mr. Yuill; we would need to be patient to see what is all about.
Regarding EU I must say that actually EU is imposing very sharp laws against paedophiles and sexual exploitation of children. Many member countries have laws that are totally out of date with huge holes for paedophiles. In all that the age of consent is the key point.
At the moment Germany, Spain and some other countries are on the pressure to change their laws on way to push up the age of consent. There are many realistic reasons and needs for that.
In Belgium and The Netherlands they already did this (as well as I think in Nordic countries few years ago). In the Netherlands was just two years ago legal to have sex with 12 years old boys and girls, and adult would be prosecuted only in case of complains of minor side. New cases and studies as well as new EU law against paedophilia (in this law is especially added seduction as major mean of exploitation of children and abuse, in other words law is recognising danger of brainwashing of kids) forced change in the legal system of the Netherlands; now the age of consent is strictly 16, any sex of adults with minors under that age is illegal and is abuse.
It is tragic that in many countries law makers are waiting to discover disaster and only after that they are forced to adjust laws to modern times and needs.
In developed countries now one of the biggest problem is Canada and its very bad law which is leading to situation of cases of legal child abuse (many international predators are quite aware of these facts and already had happened some serious cases). Good news is that new, much improved law is in procedure with higher age of consent (from 14 to 16).
http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/bills/private/C-267/C-267_1/C-267_cover-E.html Developing countries are also starting to be aware of problems, for example Brazil is introducing new changes in law with bigger penalties against paedophiles.
But in general there are still many huge holes world wide. I think that explosion in child sex tourism and pornography would soon bring more and more sharp laws and higher age of consent in many countries.
Regardless of this, in Britain is one of the big problems huge rate of teen pregnancies, it is the one of the biggest rates in all Europe. Some of the law makers in the UK are trying to say that they need to "legalize" this phenomenon by lowering the age of consent. In fact, as I know, there were three attempts to lower the age of consent in recent times but neither was successful.
It is up to all elements of society in UK to do something about this, especially on field of sexual education of kids.
UK paedophiles are very "active" domestically and internationally, lawmakers should be extremely aware of this as well.
Best wishes for the season to all,
Ivo