Ivor Caplin, a former Labour MP and under-secretary for Defence, has been arrested after allegations emerged of him attempting to engage with a 15-year-old boy. The accusations were brought forward by a vigilante group calling themselves “Stop Stings,” who specialize in exposing individuals they allege are attempting to exploit minors.
On Saturday, footage circulated on social media showing a man resembling Caplin being confronted by members of Stop Stings at a railway station. The man was subsequently handcuffed by police officers. Sussex Police later confirmed the arrest, stating,
“A local 66-year-old man was arrested on Saturday, January 11 and currently remains in custody. This is an ongoing and active investigation.”
The activist group claimed to have arranged the encounter while posing as an underage boy. Dean Rowland, the leader of Stop Stings, said the group had meticulously prepared for the confrontation.
“We have been speaking to the individual for months over WhatsApp,”
Rowland explained.
“All of the evidence has been handed over to the police now, and we hope that justice will be done.”
While being questioned by the group, Caplin reportedly denied any intention to meet a child and refuted the allegations against him.
Caplin served as the MP for Hove from 1997 to 2005 and was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence during Tony Blair’s government. A prominent figure in LGBTQ+ advocacy, he described himself as an “LGBT patron” and had maintained a public profile after leaving Parliament.
In June 2024, Caplin faced suspension from the Labour Party following unspecified “serious” allegations, although the details were never disclosed. His recent arrest marks another blow to his reputation, which has been under scrutiny in recent years.
The arrest comes shortly after Caplin publicly condemned comments made by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Musk had accused UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of inaction against child grooming gangs during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions and labeled MP Jess Phillips a
“rape genocide apologist”
for opposing a public inquiry into historic child abuse. Caplin described Musk’s statements as
“completely and utterly unfounded”
and
“unacceptable.”
Following the news of Caplin’s arrest, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to comment on the situation, writing simply,
“What a creep.”
The details of the investigation are still unfolding. Sussex Police have emphasized that the case remains active and have not provided further details on the evidence submitted by the Stop Stings group. Vigilante groups like Stop Stings often operate on the fringes of legality, raising questions about their methods and the implications of such confrontations.
Meanwhile, public reaction has been swift and polarized. Supporters of Stop Stings commend their proactive approach in exposing alleged offenders, while critics question the ethical boundaries of entrapping individuals and the potential risks of vigilantism
