Friday April 27, 2007
Public praised for locating missing offender in 48 hours
An offender is has been arrested just 48 hours after appearing on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre’s ‘Most Wanted’ website, thanks to an anonymous call from a member of the public.
Stephen Gordon was arrested by Merseyside Police yesterday afternoon. He appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court this morning charged with breaching a sexual offences prevention order and failing to comply with notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Members of the public were asked to come forward with information about the whereabouts of the 45 year old on Tuesday. His photograph was circulated by the media after his details were posted on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre’s website at www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted.
In the two days which followed the appeal, the site received in excess of 103,000 hits.
Members of the public continue to be incredibly supportive of this initiative,
explains Jim Gamble, CEO at the CEOP Centre. This fantastic result is a credit, not only to the individual whose call ultimately led to Gordon’s arrest, but indeed everyone who reported sightings and came forward with information.
The responsible approach they have taken to the release of these details is highly commendable. No one took action themselves, instead they made reports directly to the police, or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Most Wanted website is dedicated to finding ‘missing’ offenders and was designed in association with Crimestoppers. Since it went live 5 months ago, public sightings have led to six offenders being located.
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre continues to appeal for information about outstanding offenders, John Murrell, Joshua Karney and Peter Wheatherley. They are sought for failing to comply with notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Murrell was last seen in the Worcestershire area. He is known to have links with Belfast, Aberystwyth and Blackpool.
Weatherley is missing from the South Yorkshire area but is known to have links in the north of England. Intelligence also indicates that he could be in Spain, or elsewhere in Europe.
Karney has connections in the Lancashire area but is known to travel throughout the United Kingdom.
Further information and photographs can been found at www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted.
Ends
Notes to Editors
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.
This initiative forms a key element of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre’s approach to tracking and bringing 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. This is an arrestable offence, with a punishment of up to five years imprisonment.
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 or Sarah Shakespeare at The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre on 0870 000 3434 or 0207 238 2312.