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There is nowhere to hide – high risk child sex offender arrested
11 December 2006
Most Wanted website scores third major success in as many weeks
Three weeks after it launched its Most Wanted website for tracking some of the UK’s most dangerous child sex offenders, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre has seen its third offender caught following an international swoop.
Now it is calling on members of the public to help in tracking down the two remaining offenders who remain at large from the five originally posted.
Paul Francis Turner, aged 57, was arrested in Northern France earlier today following reports by members of the public who had seen his details on www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted.
This follows the capture of Kamil Krawiec on his return from his native Poland at Stansted Airport on Thursday evening. It also follows the arrest of Gordon Stewart miles from his base in the Midlands when he handed himself in to police in Aberdeenshire within 24 hours of the website going live.
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the CEOP Centre explains:
"What a great result. When we launched this service there were some who were sceptical about its success. They feared vigilante attacks. Well the message today is very simple indeed. If you are on this site then hand yourself in now – you will be tracked and you will be caught."
"So far we haven’t seen any vigilantism and this is a credit to the responsible actions of the public. What we have seen is the public working with us - not against us by taking the law into their own hands. As a result three very high risk offenders are tonight behind bars."
"Now we are following leads on the two others currently posted on the site – one of whom – Alexander Dalgleish – was last seen in Eire. So again we ask for your help. If you see either of these characters then contact your local police force or you can report anonymously to Crimestoppers. People right across the country – and indeed internationally – have made those sightings, picked up the phone and made that call – today we see another success."
"Finally I would add one key message. If you are a convicted child sex offender and you think that you can escape the terms of your conviction by jumping across borders, going into hiding, assuming different identities – then think again. You will be caught – there is no place to hide. Three out of five have already been found and we are looking to post details of new offenders in the next few weeks"
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 their local police force, or if they wish to remain anonymous they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
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 contact:
Clive Michel / Sarah Shakespeare
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
0800 000 3434