Ivor Caplin, a former Labour MP and defence minister, has been released on bail after being arrested in connection with paedophilia allegations. The 66-year-old, who served as the MP for Hove from 1997 to 2005, was reportedly filmed in a Facebook Live video by an online vigilante group, which accused him of attempting to meet an underage boy.
In the video, Caplin denied the allegations multiple times before police were contacted. The arrest took place after officers detained Caplin on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication with a child. On January 11, local police confirmed the arrest of a 66-year-old man in relation to the allegations, and it was reported that they had searched Caplin’s flat and seized items as part of the investigation.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage shared the incident on his Facebook account, further publicising the arrest. He stated that Caplin was accused of attempting to meet a 15-year-old boy as part of a sting operation by the paedophile hunters.
On Sunday, police announced that Caplin had been released on bail as investigations continue. A police spokesperson confirmed that he would be required to return for questioning on April 10 while further inquiries are conducted into the case.
The arrest has raised significant attention due to Caplin’s former high-profile position in the Labour Party and his role as a former defence minister. While the investigation is ongoing, Caplin has yet to comment on the details of the case publicly.
