Should police seduce witnesses and/or suspects?

[Martinus]

Not talking about international espionnage, but undercover law enforcement officers - should seduction of potential suspects and witnesses be within their standard information collection repertoire or should it be considered a step too far?

Why? Why not?

[Malthus]

CdM's take on this important subject should be informative. 

[Syt]

Ok, Marty, what have you gotten yourself into this time?

[CountDeMoney]

Ok, Marty, what have you gotten yourself into this time?

No kidding, is this one of your "I'll-ask-a-loaded-question-then-surprise-look-at-me" threads again?

[PDH]

I figured this was on its way to a foot-worship ending.

[Barrister]

Yeah Marti - I'd be happy to discuss what I think the answer is, but I need to know what the context is that causes you to ask the question.

[Brazen]

British police officers have a green light to start relationships with suspects if it helps them avoid being found out:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/undercover-cops-can-start-affairs--to-stop-crooks-from-using-sex-to-expose-them-7848345.html

But not to spy on them:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19784802

[HVC]

Brazen, can they also use drugs?

[Valmy]

British police officers have a green light to start relationships with suspects if it helps them avoid being found out:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/undercover-cops-can-start-affairs--to-stop-crooks-from-using-sex-to-expose-them-7848345.html

But not to spy on them:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19784802

The UK has secret cameras all over the place to do the spying.  No need to make people feel violated or anything.

[Barrister]

British police officers have a green light to start relationships with suspects if it helps them avoid being found out:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/undercover-cops-can-start-affairs--to-stop-crooks-from-using-sex-to-expose-them-7848345.html

But not to spy on them:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19784802

The UK has secret cameras all over the place to do the spying.  No need to make people feel violated or anything.

Those cameras aren't all that secret, and are all located in public places.

[Brazen]

Brazen, can they also use drugs?

I understand it's frowned upon but allowable if not to do so would break cover.

[Barrister]

My understanding is there are few, if any absolute bans on what undercover police can do, though there are numerous urban myths.  Everything from "touch my boob to prove you're not a cop" to "smoke these drugs with me to prove you're not a cop" and "help me out on this B&E to prove you're not a cop".

Everything depends on context as well - if whatever the suspect activity was initiated solely by the undercover agent it will be viewed entirely differently then if it was initiated by the criminals and police involvement was peripheral.

So to go to the original question: police specifically going out with the intention to "seduce" a suspect is going to be frowned on, whereas if there is some sexual contact that is more incidental to the undercover work it will probably be fine.

Now this is all in a criminal justice context - if you're dealing with espionage and national security doubtlessly the rules are different.

[CountDeMoney]

I never did any of that stuff on the force.  Too many potential issues.

Now, I did bang a couple angry wife clients as a PI, and accepted various "alternative payment plans" as a bail bondsman.   

[Martinus]

Well, it's an offshoot of the doctor bribery case - an undercover cop was having a relationship with a nurse so she can smuggle documents from the hospital to him.

[Razgovory]

My understanding is there are few, if any absolute bans on what undercover police can do, though there are numerous urban myths.  Everything from "touch my boob to prove you're not a cop"

Why does this never happen to me?