Most Wanted Suspected Arrested

Sat, 04 September 2010 Courtesy of: Police Oracle

The Child Online Exploitation and Protection centre’s Most Wanted List has again proved its worth after it helped to net another missing child sex offender.

Fraser Benjamin McLaughlin of Hamilton, Scotland, was picked up by the Garda in the Republic of Ireland after members of the public reported their suspicions.

McLaughlin (57) was the 21st convicted offender to have his profile posted on the Most Wanted website – he had been missing for some months and had last been seen boarding a ferry from Hamilton to Northern Ireland.

The CEOP-run site, which contains details of those who have absconded and are in breach of their Sex Offender Register requirements, has delivered an astonishing success rate.

Around 80 per cent of the offenders posted have been tracked down, and the deterrence value alone has proved enough to keep others meeting their conditions.

DI David Tassie of Strathclyde Police, who has been working on the McLaughlin case, said he was delighted to have a result following the search.

As well as breaching his Sex Offenders’ Register notification details – an offence which can carry a five-year-jail term – McLaughlin was also wanted for failing to answer bail in relation to previous child abuse image offences.

Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of CEOP, said that the Most Wanted site was a potent weapon against offenders who felt they could flout their obligations.

He added: “If McLaughlin thought he could hide, he is tonight learning a lesson.

“My message to other convicted offenders who think they can also go missing is to look at this story and give themselves up as they too may find their details posted.”