‘Wanted’ sex offenders named online

Some of Britain`s most wanted child sex offenders were published earlier this month on a new website dedicated to locating those “failing to comply with notification requirements”.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre has set up the site in association with Crimestoppers’ Most Wanted, at www.ceop.gov.uk/ wanted, to appeal for information about child sex offenders who have disappeared off the radar.

Sex offenders on the site have already served sentences and now face further punishment of up to five years in prison for their non-compliance.

Jim Gamble, head of the CEOP Centre, said: “It is not about publishing details of all sex offenders as this could drive a large number of compliant offenders away from effective management programmes. What we want to do is maximise every available opportunity to locate those offenders who are missing to protect children, young people and communities.”

He added: “The public must report sightings so the police can take appropriate action. Vigilante activity will be robustly dealt with and is likely to result in arrest.”

The police already run a “most wanted” list on their Crimestoppers website which has received almost 40 million hits and led to 24 arrests since it went live a year ago.

Mr Gamble said: “Now we need to move a lot of that success towards protecting children. If you are a convicted sex offender and think you can escape your notification requirements, or think you can move out of your region and go missing, then think again. Your details may now be posted on this site. Your picture will be there so that people can report you and we can locate you.”

The site received 8 million hits in one day and last week Gordon Stewart, one of the wanted individuals handed themselves in to the police.