Ex-Labour MP arrested ‘after trying to meet boy, 15, in video live-streamed on Facebook’ as cops raid his home
FORMER Labour minister Ivor Caplin was arrested today after he was filmed allegedly trying to meet with a 15-year-old child he met online.
The ex-Hove MP was stopped at his local train station by activist group Stop Stings who told The Sun they had arranged to meet him there posing as an “underage boy”.
A video showing Caplin wearing a red Adidas cap, dogtooth navy trench coat and ripped jeans went viral last night after it was released on the Stop Stings Facebook profile.
The group’s leader Dean Rowland, who had travelled from Derbyshire with six other members of his team, is heard accusing Caplin of sending inappropriate messages over the internet to a person posing as a child.
He alleges that Caplin, a former defence minister, was at Hove station believing he was going to meet up with a teenager.
Caplin strongly denies he was there to meet a child – and during the exchange, he repeats: “I haven’t done anything”.
The confrontation with Caplin was live-streamed on Facebook, lasting 30 minutes and attracting more than 36,000 views and 3,000 comments.
Mark, one of Stop Sting’s leaders says to the man on the video: “Who you here to meet Ivor?”
Caplin replies: “He’s a … I haven’t met him.”
Mark says: “Don’t start your slippery MP… slippery MP slope with me.”
Caplin replies: “I don’t want to meet anybody.”
Further footage of his arrest was similarly shared on other online platforms.
Sussex Police said: “We are aware of footage circulating on social media showing a man in Brighton being detained on suspicion of engaging in online sexual communications with a child.
“Officers can confirm that a local 66-year-old man was arrested on Saturday January 11 and currently remains in custody.
“This is an ongoing and active investigation.”
Speaking to The Sun Dean said his group had handed their “evidence” over to the police who had arrested him.
He said: “We had done a lot of research before this meeting took place.
“We have been speaking to the individual for months over WhatsApp.
“All of the evidence has been handed over to the police now and we hope that justice will be done.
“There are also images that have been sent by him [Caplin] that have been handed over and can be used as evidence.”
SUSPENDED
In June 2024 Caplin was suspended from the Labour Party over undisclosed serious allegations, which he denies.
He previously represented Hove between 1997 and 2005.
Caplin is not currently believed to be a member of the Labour Party.
Having originally been elected to Hove Borough Council, Caplin stood as the Labour MP for Hove for eight years.
In that time, he served as a parliamentary under-secretary in the Ministry of Defence during Tony Blair’s time as Prime Minister.
Specialist Sussex Police cops tonight raided Mr Caplin’s two bedroom, £350,000 flat in Hove, East Sussex, and spent hours searching his possessions.
A resident who lives in the same block said: “There was a large number of police that came, and an officer was very clearly in charge and was giving directions.
“A couple of vans and cars were here for hours.
“Then more came in the late afternoon and it looked like they were going to do a search.
“They wouldn’t say what it was about, but knowing he’s being investigated for that is very concerning.”