Good policing

Well done to all those whose policing work has contributed to this outcome:

An alleged British child sex offender has been deported to the UK after being found at a Hawke's Bay location popular with children.

Matthew Paul Hamilton, 29, has managed to evade authorities for two years and has been living here illegally since his one-month visitor visa lapsed in 2008.

Hamilton had been moving around New Zealand and was last seen in Hastings, police said.

Police said they began actively looking for him after a national alert was sent out last month leading to his arrest earlier this month.

He offered no resistance and was arrested immediately.

Whilst Hamilton's arrest and deportation is for the immigration breach, that's one less threat to our children and young people. And the story suggests that we should be thankful to one Hawkes Bay copper in particular:

Eastern District police spokesman Detective Inspector Ross Pinkham said the arrest came after a detective went to the popular location on a "gut instinct".

"We knew that Hamilton had been seen in the area at some stage, but it was not confirmed. So it was a case of working out where he might be and talking to as many people as possible who might have come across him.

"It was very pleasing to get the result that we did and to remove him from the country," Mr Pinkham said.

Hamilton was extradited earlier this month and returned to the UK.

That detective deserves a DB, or whatever choice of brew he prefers. The UK is welcome to Matthew Hamilton.