Police have located and arrested convicted child rapist Daniel Livingstone, who had been missing since yesterday.
Detective Inspector Grant Wormald briefs reporters on Daniel Livingstone's capture. Photo: RNZ / Mei Heron
Livingstone removed his monitoring bracelet early yesterday morning and disappeared from his Upper Hutt home.
Daniel Livingstone Photo: NZ POLICE
A tamper alarm on the bracelet went off at about 1.30am but police officers did not knock on his door until more than two hours later, and did not force their way in until about 9am.
A member of the public notified the police around 3.30pm today that Livingstone was in the vicinity of the Naenae shops in the Hutt Valley.
Staff patrolling in the area were immediately dispatched and Livingstone was also spotted on the Hutt City CTTV camera network, which is monitored at the Lower Hutt Police Station.
Police said they established cordons and, although Livingstone made a brief attempt to flee, he was apprehended within the cordon.
He will be taken to Wellington Central Police Station, where he will be held overnight pending a court appearance tomorrow morning.
Livingstone abducted and raped a 10-year-old girl in Whangarei in 2006 and was under an extended supervision order following his release from prison last year.
He has been charged with breaching the conditions of his release.
Police said there had been a good response from the public and they would like to thank everyone who had provided information.
'They were very sure that it was him'
Detective Inspector Grant Wormald said hundreds of calls had been received.
"We received a call just on 3.30pm from someone who recognised him from the photos that had been put out there. They were very sure that it was him."
He said dozens of officers were already in the Hutt Valley, and a circle of patrol cars was set up around Livingstone's location.
"When he saw the first police car, he did run - and we were able to track him through the camera system to another police patrol."
Mr Wormald said police would look at how quickly they responded to the bracelet alarm.
"If we need to tighten up on the way that the law is interpreted and perhaps the way it is written, then we are going to have a wee inquiry into that - and see whether or not there's better ways that we can do it or changes that need to be made."
Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga said earlier today he was deeply concerned by the case, and had asked his officials for more details about Mr Livingstone's monitoring
The Department of Corrections said it was satisfied that police had followed correct procedure in their search.
Corrections Acting National Commissioner Rachel Leota told Checkpoint Livingstone's alarm was activated just before 2am yesterday. She said monitoring company 3M alerted Corrections within 10 minutes, as required, and visited the property within an hour. The police were then alerted.
She said Corrections made their concerns clear to police but it was up to the police to decide what actions were appropriate.
