Call to Crimestoppers leads to arrest of sixth offender from CEOP's Most Wanted

[1st May 2007]

An offender has been arrested just 48 hours after appearing on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre's ‘Most Wanted' website, thanks to an anonymous call to Crimestoppers.

Stephen Gordon was arrested by Merseyside Police on 26 April. Members of the public were asked to come forward with information about the whereabouts of the 45 year old on Tuesday. His photograph was circulated by the media after his details were posted on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre's website which was built by the charity Crimestoppers at www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted.

In the two days which followed the appeal, the site received in excess of 103,000 hits. “Members of the public continue to be incredibly supportive of this initiative,” explains Jim Gamble, CEO at the CEOP Centre. This fantastic result is a credit, not only to the individual whose call ultimately led to Gordon's arrest, but indeed everyone who reported sightings and came forward with information.”

Dave Cording, Crimestoppers director of Operations said: “The speedy success of locating this offender shows the public are keen to play their part in helping to locate these missing offenders. We are pleased that the public are being responsible by not taking action themselves but contacting the police, or in this case the caller chose to call us anonymously.”

The CEOP centre's Most Wanted website is dedicated to finding ‘missing' offenders. Since it went live 5 months ago, public sightings have led to six offenders being located.

Further information and photographs can been found at www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted.