Internet Watch Foundation

Nine of the UK’s highest risk child sex offenders, missing for a combined total of over 20 years, have been located in the last 12 months as a direct result of the ‘Most Wanted’ website run by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.  

 

For the first time in the UK, the images of child sex offenders have been ‘age progressed’ to ensure that members of the public - and especially those working with children – have the very latest information on how these convicted offenders may look now.

 

The Internet Watch Foundation works in close partnership with CEOP, ensuring that potentially illegal online content is removed, those involved in the distribution of child sexual abuse images on the internet are investigated, and that our reports and intelligence regarding websites hosted overseas are passed to the relevant law enforcement agency.

 

The Most Wanted site’s 14^th target has been added today. 35 year old Stephen Clare is wanted by Northumbria Police for failure to fulfil his requirement to register on the Sex Offenders Register in 2002 and his current whereabouts are unknown.  He has been known to work as a photographer and has undertaken qualifications to teach English as a foreign language and has possibly travelled overseas.

 

CEOP Chief Executive Jim Gamble said: “Last year we asked members of the public everywhere to work with us. Register on this site, have a look at these offenders and together let’s locate them and bring them back to justice.  Thanks to their efforts and that partnership, nine offenders now know the true power of this new approach; nine offenders now know that they cannot escape the consequences of their crime.

 

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: “I am committed to protecting children against sexual predators and I am pleased that so much has been achieved to this end in the past year. Through the ‘Most Wanted’ website CEOP has set the standard for keeping children safe from sexual abuse. The UK is leading the way in ensuring that every child is living their life free from fear, and every offender is found and punished.”

 

Anyone with any information on any of the offenders posted should contact their local police station or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.