Ivor Caplin, who served as the Member of Parliament for Hove between 1997 and 2005, was taken into custody on Saturday in Brighton, England. The 66-year-old former Labour Party MP was detained on suspicion of engaging in online sexual communications with a child, Sussex Police confirmed. The arrest followed Caplin’s suspension from the Labour Party just a month earlier over what were described as “serious allegations.”
Caplin, 66, was arrested after a sting by pedophile hunters. The incident was captured and shared on social media, with a significant number of users viewing a Facebook livestream that documented the arrest.
Over 36,000 people watched as police officers detained Caplin, informing him that the action was to “protect a vulnerable person—namely a child.” As part of the arrest process, Caplin was handcuffed and searched, and his mobile phone was seized as evidence.
Former Labour Defence Minister Ivor Caplin has been arrested today after a sting by paedophile hunters. He allegedly attempted to meet a 15 year old boy. pic.twitter.com/hc7EAewjLd
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) January 11, 2025
In an official statement, Sussex Police acknowledged the social media footage showing the detention of a local man. Officers confirmed that Caplin remains in custody, and the investigation is ongoing. The police reiterated that this is an active case, emphasizing their commitment to addressing the allegations.
Caplin, who grew up in a Jewish family in the South East of England, once held senior roles such as Assistant Government Whip and Junior Defence Minister under former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government. His social media feeds have recently been packed with gay, pornographic content.
In recent years, the UK has been grappling with the issue of mass child sexual exploitation, primarily perpetrated by gangs of Pakistani Muslim men who targeted young white girls.