Yesterday, former Labour MP Ivor Caplin, 66, was arrested after a confrontation at Hove train station involving the activist group “Stop Stings.” The group claims Caplin arranged to meet someone he believed to be a 15-year-old child after online communication. Sussex Police confirmed the arrest and stated that investigations are ongoing, with no charges yet filed.
It is understood that Mr Caplin denies all allegations against him.
Former MP Confronted in Viral Online Sting
The incident, live-streamed on Facebook by Stop Stings, shows Caplin dressed in a red Adidas cap, a navy trench coat, and ripped jeans. In the video, Dean Rowland, leader of the activist group, accuses Caplin of sending inappropriate messages to a decoy posing as a minor.
The confrontation, which lasted about 30 minutes, attracted over 36,000 views and 3,000 comments shortly after being uploaded. Caplin is seen denying any wrongdoing, repeatedly stating, “I haven’t done anything.”
Police arrived at the scene and arrested Caplin on suspicion of engaging in online sexual communication with a minor. Later, officers conducted a search of his two-bedroom flat in Hove, reportedly worth £350,000, as part of their investigation.
A History of Controversy
Caplin, who served as Labour MP for Hove from 1997 to 2005, was a parliamentary under-secretary in the Ministry of Defence under Tony Blair. However, his political career has faced challenges in recent years. In June 2024, he was suspended from the Labour Party following undisclosed serious allegations, which he denies. Caplin is not currently affiliated with the party.
This latest incident has further thrust the former politician into the spotlight. Sussex Police issued a statement regarding the situation:
“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.”
Separate Stings in Sussex Raise Concerns
In addition to the confrontation with Caplin, Sussex Police have reportedly made arrests following three other unrelated stings in the past two weeks. These operations, carried out by different activist groups, took place in Chichester, Hastings, and Brighton’s Whitehawk area. While the groups involved differ, the allegations and methods remain similar, with decoys posing as minors online to expose alleged offenders.
