Police Sting ...
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/3590533.stm
TV sting gives police last laugh
Wanted criminals on Teesside have driven themselves straight into the hands of the law after being lured to appear on a television show. Cleveland Police invited car crooks to take part in a go-kart race outside Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium.
But their fame was short-lived as officers lay in wait armed with warrants for their arrest.
The "contestants", chosen after they had ignored penalties handed out by the courts, were filmed for a TV show.
The show, to be screened on channel Five, bore most of the cost of the police sting.
The thieves were lured to the scene by the chance of winning a top-of-the-range car and meeting former Formula One world champion Nigel Mansell.
'Total surprise'
They were greeted by hostesses and interviewed about vehicle crime and security before being led to what they thought was a trip around the track.
But instead of gearing up for a drive, they were met by officers ready to take them into custody.
Detective Inspector Colin Tansley said the show had picked out persistent offenders.
He said: "It was a total surprise to them when they were confronted by police officers and the reactions are quite funny."
Detective Chief Superintendent John Kelly said most of the cost was met by the TV production company True North.
He said: "I am quite happy to use this and any other weapon in our arsenal to bring people to justice."
The operation was caught on film and will be broadcast on McIntyre's Big Sting on channel Five on 6 April.
TV sting gives police last laugh
Wanted criminals on Teesside have driven themselves straight into the hands of the law after being lured to appear on a television show. Cleveland Police invited car crooks to take part in a go-kart race outside Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium.
But their fame was short-lived as officers lay in wait armed with warrants for their arrest.
The "contestants", chosen after they had ignored penalties handed out by the courts, were filmed for a TV show.
The show, to be screened on channel Five, bore most of the cost of the police sting.
The thieves were lured to the scene by the chance of winning a top-of-the-range car and meeting former Formula One world champion Nigel Mansell.
'Total surprise'
They were greeted by hostesses and interviewed about vehicle crime and security before being led to what they thought was a trip around the track.
But instead of gearing up for a drive, they were met by officers ready to take them into custody.
Detective Inspector Colin Tansley said the show had picked out persistent offenders.
He said: "It was a total surprise to them when they were confronted by police officers and the reactions are quite funny."
Detective Chief Superintendent John Kelly said most of the cost was met by the TV production company True North.
He said: "I am quite happy to use this and any other weapon in our arsenal to bring people to justice."
The operation was caught on film and will be broadcast on McIntyre's Big Sting on channel Five on 6 April.
, but imagine if one of them had nicked, trashed and burnt out YOUR car (as happened to Mrs. WR a few years ago 
) I have no sympathy for the scumbags.....
complete waste of time tho. was on last week, offering burgulars that hadnt shown for court dates, and were now on warrant.
guess what? caught them, took the to court, and given bail...
didnt turn up for court date, and were back on warrant.. ALL OF THEM.
judges need a kick up the ass.
judge "why you here sunny?
muppet " I failed to appear last time you bailed me"
JUDGE " ooh have bail, but turn up next time."
guess what? caught them, took the to court, and given bail...
didnt turn up for court date, and were back on warrant.. ALL OF THEM.
judges need a kick up the ass.
judge "why you here sunny?
muppet " I failed to appear last time you bailed me"
JUDGE " ooh have bail, but turn up next time."
ENTRAPMENT - A person is 'entrapped' when he is induced or persuaded by law enforcement officers or their agents to commit a crime that he had no previous intent to commit; and the law as a matter of policy forbids conviction in such a case.
However, there is no entrapment where a person is ready and willing to break the law and the Government agents merely provide what appears to be a favorable opportunity for the person to commit the crime. For example, it is not entrapment for a Government agent to pretend to be someone else and to offer, either directly or through an informer or other decoy, to engage in an unlawful transaction with the person. So, a person would not be a victim of entrapment if the person was ready, willing and able to commit the crime charged in the indictment whenever opportunity was afforded, and that Government officers or their agents did no more than offer an opportunity.
On the other hand, if the evidence leaves a reasonable doubt whether the person had any intent to commit the crime except for inducement or persuasion on the part of some Government officer or agent, then the person is not guilty.
In slightly different words: Even though someone may have [sold drugs], as charged by the government, if it was the result of entrapment then he is not guilty. Government agents entrapped him if three things occurred:
- First, the idea for committing the crime came from the government agents and not from the person accused of the crime.
- Second, the government agents then persuaded or talked the person into committing the crime. Simply giving him the opportunity to commit the crime is not the same as persuading him to commit the crime.
- And third, the person was not ready and willing to commit the crime before the government agents spoke with him.
On the issue of entrapment the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not entrapped by government agents.
However, there is no entrapment where a person is ready and willing to break the law and the Government agents merely provide what appears to be a favorable opportunity for the person to commit the crime. For example, it is not entrapment for a Government agent to pretend to be someone else and to offer, either directly or through an informer or other decoy, to engage in an unlawful transaction with the person. So, a person would not be a victim of entrapment if the person was ready, willing and able to commit the crime charged in the indictment whenever opportunity was afforded, and that Government officers or their agents did no more than offer an opportunity.
On the other hand, if the evidence leaves a reasonable doubt whether the person had any intent to commit the crime except for inducement or persuasion on the part of some Government officer or agent, then the person is not guilty.
In slightly different words: Even though someone may have [sold drugs], as charged by the government, if it was the result of entrapment then he is not guilty. Government agents entrapped him if three things occurred:
- First, the idea for committing the crime came from the government agents and not from the person accused of the crime.
- Second, the government agents then persuaded or talked the person into committing the crime. Simply giving him the opportunity to commit the crime is not the same as persuading him to commit the crime.
- And third, the person was not ready and willing to commit the crime before the government agents spoke with him.
On the issue of entrapment the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not entrapped by government agents.
pdV6 said:
Seeing as this kind of operation is shown on the "Police, Camera, Feckwit"-type shows fairly often, I have no feelings of remorse when the idiots fall for it
I was watching one of these last night - something about car crime in London, lots of stuff on it from TDAs to ANPR in cars etc etc - but a very cynical thought came over me....
I've always thought that there are too many of those type of shows on TV (just talking about standard UK TV - not the imported versions of these shows from the US and elsewhere), but could it be a cynical ploy by the TV companies (in last nights case I believe it was the BBC) to show these programmes to "prove" that the Police are doing something about this type of crime (ie driving without tax, insurance, or with a stupidly loud wireless etc) that many people think that they turn a blind eye to.
Maybe some truth in it - maybe I was just having a cynical moment...
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