Anyone got any views on police entrapment? Just thought about this after reading about the Luke Sadowski conviction. Is it right that the police set up a fake paedophile website, arrange meetings with fake young girls and then nick the paedophiles?

Is it the fact that this crime is so abhorrent that makes us happy to accept entrapment in this case, whereas we would be more reluctant if it was, say, an unmarked policecar enticing drivers to go fast?

<cheapshot> Another thing I found interesting about the Sadowski case was the comment made by the police regarding the fact that articles including handcuffs and a police baton were found at Sadowski’s house. Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Sarti, of the Metropolitan Police’s Paedophile Unit (SCD5), said: “the contents of Sadowski’s safe show what can only be described as sadistic implements of restraint”. Quite. </cheapshot>

Of course I am in no way condoning what Sadowski was attempting to do. But paedophilia is a crime which generates more mass hysteria and lynch–mob mentality than most so I just think we need to be extra careful when dealing with it. Implements of restraint are only sadistic if you use them sadistically. Is entrapment ever OK? If so, when? Only for the most heinous crimes? What does anyone think?