Thursday May 3, 2007
Keep up to date with the nations's ‘Most Wanted’
The public can now keep track of convicted child sex offenders who go missing thanks to a new facility launched by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre and independent charity Crimestoppers.
From today, members of the public can ask to be notified each time an offender is added to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre’s ‘Most Wanted’ Website.
Crimestoppers developed the email alert which will automatically be sent to anyone who has registered for updates. It will direct them to www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted where they can view the latest photographs and details in full.
Since the site went live five months ago, public reports have already led police to six offenders. All went missing after failing to comply with their notification requirements. It is hoped today’s move will further increase awareness of Most Wanted and lead to even more offenders being located.
This facility will enable us to circulate the details of ‘Wanted’ offenders far wider than we have been able to previously,
explains the Centre’s CEO Jim Gamble.
As visitors to the site increase, so too does the possibility that an offender will be recognised and reported.
Whether you’re involved in child protection or law enforcement, or you’re simply an interested parent or a concerned member of the community, everyone has a role to play when it comes to locating convicted child sex offenders who are missing. Anyone could spot an individual from our site and make the all important call that leads to them being uncovered.
So, sign up to ‘Most Wanted’ today and work alongside us in a responsible and successful approach to tracking offenders and safeguarding our communities.
To any offender out there who thinks they can escape their registration requirements, I’d say ‘think again’. From now on, the chances of you remaining hidden will rapidly diminish with every person that registers for updates.
Mick Laurie, Crimestoppers Chief Executive said:
The public have been very supportive of this website and we hope they will continue to give information to help protect young people from these offenders.
“This registration facility is a great way for anyone to stay up to date with any new appeals for missing offenders on the site. This does not affect your anonymity when giving information about an offender online using our appeal reporting form. When using this facility you always remain completely anonymous.
To register, simply visit www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted. Click on ‘Get Most Wanted Email Alerts’ and enter your name and email address. The details entered will not be used for any other purpose and can be removed by the subscriber at any time.
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre joined forces with Crimestoppers to develop Most Wanted. It was launched last November as the UK’s first national website dedicated to locating child sex offenders who have failed to comply with notification requirements. This is an arrestable offence, with a punishment of up to five years imprisonment.
Ends
Notes to Editors
The latest Information and photographs regarding missing offenders can been found at www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted.
Members of the public can safely help locate ‘missing’ offenders by viewing photos and descriptions via the CEOP and Crimestoppers websites. If they recognise someone they are urged to contact the local police force, or if they wish to remain anonymous they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The initiative to publish details of some of the UK’s child sex offenders forms a key element of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre’s approach to tracking and bringing child sex offenders to account. All individuals published on the site have previously been convicted for an offence for which they have already served punishment within the criminal justice system. They are sought because they have subsequently failed to fulfil their requirements as part of their placement on the Sex Offenders Register.
Details of previous offences will not be disclosed to the media for the reasons stated above.
Photographs of offenders will only be published with the consent of the local police force. Individual forces are under no obligation to publish their offenders on the Most Wanted site. Further offenders will be considered for inclusion on the ‘Most Wanted’ site in consultation with local police forces.
The decision to publish the details of all offenders detailed on the site has been risk assessed by the CEOP Centre and relevant local forces.
The CEOP Centre works in both online and offline environments to protect children from sexual exploitation. Full information on all areas of work as well as online safety messages and access to online reporting can be found at www.ceop.gov.uk.
The organisation is affiliated to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and powers are derived from the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. It is based in Pimlico, London with developing outreach channels to all areas of both domestic and international policing as well as industry and specialist support and educational faculties.
For further information please contact:
Clive Michel / Sarah Shakespeare / Miriam Rich
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
0870 000 3434
Michele Harris, PR & Marketing Manager – Crimestoppers on 020 8254 3230 or michele.harris@crimestoppers-uk.org.