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Coppers dressed as sorts

Police caught the 14 men who appeared in Newcastle court this week charged with soliciting prostitutes by positioning plain-clothed policewomen on an Islington street corner. But, pertinently, they were good sorts, and as one of the men tells me in my column in The Herald today, the one that enticed him to stop was an especially good sort. And the police inspector in charge of the month-long operation concedes in my column today that the policewomen were a cut above the usual streetworker standard.

Does this amount to entrapment?

The fellow I interviewed for my column, one of the 14, tells me he had no intention of calling on the services of a prostitute until noticed the particularly good sort inviting offers on the Islington corner. He just happened to be driving along Maitland Road. And he admits that from time to time he has done business with Islington street prostitutes who were not good sorts, but his point remains a fair one. He was not charged with soliciting sexual services on those other occasions - he was charged with soliciting sexual services on the occasion he was enticed to do so by the beauty of the copper's decoy.

If police are out to catch men who may be so enticed, they'll do wonders for their crime-busting figures if they can get Jennifer Hawkins to stand there for half an hour one day.

Would it be fairer if police wired the current prostitutes for verbal evidence and paid them the usual rate per catch?

And in my column today I expand on my belief that there is no shame among men for using prostitutes, that I and my ilk think no less of men who do. Am I right or wrong?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 27/05/2009 5:23:49 PM | Comments (30)

comments

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You seem to have a preoccupation with the Islington street girls and their clients. Have you had a bad experience?

Posted by moron, 28/05/2009 10:48:50 AM

Not at Islington, Moron.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 28/05/2009 11:18:00 AM

You're wrong Jeff. I am over sixty years of age and have never been tempted to pay for sex. Why pay for something that is thrown at you. My ex mates were going to the Cross seeing the pro's and getting tattoos. They now look like comic books and are still insecure pea hearts, that have daughters of their own. Wake up Jeff. A good attempt at being controversial

Posted by old boy, 28/05/2009 10:53:51 AM

Wake up to what, old boy?

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 28/05/2009 12:11:25 PM

oh please officer, its not my fault, she was just sooooo good looking, honest i was just driving home and boom! there she was, i could not help myself. pissed myself laughing at that one Jeff.

Posted by cockroach, 28/05/2009 10:59:48 AM

You are not wrong Jeff I actually have to drive thru the area in question to visit friends who live near by. On several occasions I have seen a person standing on a Tighes Hill corner and to use your words looked an especially good sort. As I turned the corner as I usually do she waved as if to entice me to stop. What attracted me to look at her was her well above average appearance and the fact that she waved and was not standing out of sight in the shadow of the street light, the girls that usually stand their are usually not as well presented due to not having a free supply of up market clothing, stand in the shadows and do not wave. I do not use their services but I can see how these guys were trapped as I also had second thoughts about turning around.

Posted by DavidB, 28/05/2009 11:06:41 AM

I can't see the attraction of drug addicted girls, who share needles and infectious diseases.

Posted by Jackson, 28/05/2009 11:31:18 AM

Nor can I.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 28/05/2009 12:09:29 PM

The police woman would have to let the clients/people ask her for a service to arrest them for doing a crime ??? If the police woman on duty at that time is the one that asked if a person wants an sexual act she would have done the arrests illegally. If you can't tell the difference between a drug addicted prostitution worker or a undercover police woman it's time to go to the optometrist to get some thick reading glasses provided. 14 people got caught solicting for sex asking a undercover police officer (woman) for sex, that's guilty !!..... In the end, just keep away from the Pasta in a jar !!! The cost of the fine will be doubled if it happens....ROFLMFAO !!!!!

Posted by one-eyed opinion !!, 28/05/2009 12:12:23 PM

What if it's the other way round ? "Sorts dressed as Coppers". What do they charge you with if you proposition a Policewoman? 'I'm really very sorry your honour..I thought she was an undercover prostitute..!!!

Posted by Colin O., 28/05/2009 12:44:34 PM

Again the Police cannot win, damned if they do and damned if they don't. If you want to make an operation like that sucessful, you need to have the right bait. Well done, loved reading the names in the Herald.

Posted by Buell, 28/05/2009 12:58:12 PM

Did you know any of them, Buell?

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 28/05/2009 1:23:06 PM

No, but I'm sure some wife or girlfriend out there did!

Posted by Buell, 28/05/2009 1:24:27 PM

Of cause I am right Jeff and DavidB. Your own comments and postings prove it. Jeff on one hand you say there is no shame on this subject. When commenting on Jackson's posting, you agree with him. So if a person caught HIV and all the other nasty STD's I am sure he would not be advertising he has picked up a load from a prostitute. That could be shame! Now poor old DavidB...... states he hasn't used prostitutes before, but was seriously tempted. O dear I'LL bet there is plenty of "good sort" prostitutes that have been infecting the poor desperates you speak of. Stay strong David!!!!!

Posted by old boy, 28/05/2009 2:51:53 PM

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