Former Labour MP Ivor Caplin Arrested in Citizen-Led Sting Operation Following Child Grooming Allegations
According to Mail Online, former Labour MP Ivor Caplin, who recently criticised Elon Musk on British television for remarks about Keir Starmer, has been arrested following a sting operation by a group known as Stop Stings. The operation, conducted by citizen-led paedophile hunters, was live-streamed on Facebook and alleges that Caplin attempted to meet a person he believed to be a 15-year-old boy.
This story has received extensive coverage on social media in the UK, sparking widespread public reaction.
Caplin had recently made headlines for condemning Elon Musk’s tweets about Jess Phillips and Keir Starmer, describing them as “unacceptable”:
“The abuse he has tried to bring on Keir Starmer is completely and utterly unfounded.”
“He can’t do that. That’s unacceptable.”
In June 2024, Caplin was suspended from the Labour Party over “serious allegations,” which he denied. The nature of those allegations was not disclosed at the time, but his arrest has intensified political pressure on the Labour Party.
Critics are raising questions about what the Labour Party knew regarding Caplin’s alleged behaviour. If they were aware, some would ask why the party failed to report the matter to the police. This has led to accusations of a potential cover-up, with parallels being drawn to the scrutiny religious institutions have faced in past child abuse cases.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk and Neil Farage have taken a personal interest in the matter and tweeted about the developments.
A former Labour MP has been arrested during a paedophile sting just months after he was suspended from the party over serious allegations.
A video shared on social media shows a man who identifies himself as the former Labour MP Ivor Caplin being handcuffed by police officers.
Sussex Police have confirmed they have arrested a 66-year-old man on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication with a child.
In May last year, Mr Caplin was suspended over undisclosed ‘serious allegations’ – which he denies.
Footage of the arrest has been shared online showing a man wearing a black trench coat and a red cap being held by officers.
Police then appear to take the arrested man’s phone and put it inside an evidence bag.
A police spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of footage circulating on social media showing a man in Brighton being detained on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication 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.’
It is understood that Mr Caplin denies all allegations against him.
The former Hove MP, who represented the constituency between 1997 and 2005, was suspected from the Labour Party over serious allegations.
He was elected as a member of Parliament for Hove in 1997.
In 2001 he became as assistant Government whip and then a junior defence minister and minister for Veterans at the Ministry of Defence.
Mr Caplin was suspended from the Labour Party in May 2024 and is no longer a member.
MailOnline has approached Mr Caplin for comment.
In one of the videos shared online, Mr Caplin is seen being handcuffed as he is held by two men.
In the video, the officer is heard telling him that he was arresting him to ‘protect a vulnerable person – namely a child’.
The former MP answered the questions asked by the officer.
After being cuffed he is then taken into the hands of the police officers who then search him.
The officer removes the phone from the suspended Labour member’s pockets, placing it inside an evidence bag saying he believes the device ‘holds evidence on that device’.
In the video he denies any wrongdoing claiming he was going into the town.
He also confirmed he used to be a veterans minister when he was asked.