I was 1 of the 36 in Operation Quest

[Punter08]

Sorry to hear about your experience, however, I think they have to give you their Garda I.D numbers and names if they take property off you like your phone. I got nabbed coming out of a place about 16 years ago and was asked to talk to them ,which I did. They took notes and made me sign a statement in the car,also they gave me their names and station details. Thankfully I never heard from them again, however it was mentioned in the papers about the operation. You are entitled to have their names and I.D no matter what. Just my experience that I will remember.

Yes they are public servants and legally obliged to give out their names and badge number as well as the station they are working from.

[Punter08]

BigBen deserves to be thanked for this post and for informing us what happened.

Does need good legal advice. It is easy to be a keyboard warrior here, but I do thing the guards are "chancing their arm" here and have conducted an illegal interview that was carried out without legal representation and was not even carried out under caution. Did you even sign anything? Hopefully not, but even if you did, I would have thought it would not stand up in court under the circumstances.

They are also trying to hold your phone hostage (!!!WTF!!) so that you go to the station so they can carry out further (illegal?) interviews. Is your phone legally seized, did they give you a receipt and paper work for it, or is it actually stolen? They may claim your phone is not stolen because you gave it to them voluntarily and they are not "permanently depriving you of it" but they are requiring you to take action to recover it and a argument could be made that it was taken from you dishonestly.

Ideal situation would be that your solicitor goes to the station and recovers the phone for you. Going there yourself may not be a good idea. If you do, demand your phone back and nothing else.

Looks like a case that has happened before. Case based completely on intimidation. If the situation you outlined in the original post was outlined in a court, I don't think the court would be too impressed. I am convinced no guard would want such a thing to see the light of day. However, if they can intimidate someone into just turning up at court in response to a summons,, as has happened before, and pleading guilty, they don't have to prove anything and their questionable (and worse) behaviour and disregard for the criminal law and good practice will not be exposed. As I said before, easy to be a "keyboard warrior" but that is my take on it.

TL;DR GET SOME COMPETENT LEGAL ADVICE!!!

Sounds like Ben was not the only punter who knew his rights and the guards frustration was apparent by the way they conducted themselves. However someone who does not know their rights would squeal like a pig under this pressure which is what the guards want.

Kudos to Ben.

[cum4me]

Police in the Mainland UK although legal to PFS over here not much different, I remember phones being took off me and know it was illegal to do so but don't have anything on it, It was outside a brothel and I know if had to have been an ass or rude to them they could and probably be out to get me again, Theyre like elephants, the police, great memories, Don't make unwanted trouble for yourselves when no need to, got my phone back and told to have a nice day.

[Jinxed]

I'm not pro Guarda but if this operation they're are running saves even one girl from a life of rape, is that not a great thing.

Would you not think about something like that instead of worrying about phones and badge numbers and Guardas abusing their power making you the victim. You're not the victim. You're the law breaker.

[cum4me]

I'm not pro Guarda but if this operation they're are running saves even one girl from a life of rape, is that not a great thing.

Would you not think about something like that instead of worrying about phones and badge numbers and Guardas abusing their power making you the victim. You're not the victim. You're the law breaker.

They are just doing their job, the top guns are looking at the results other countries are having and seeing their guys awful record and just seen as a laughing stock, The Guards have come through a lot lately most of it their own doing and looking to change, its a handy job this one but someones gotta do it

[homealone1]

I'm not pro Guarda but if this operation they're are running saves even one girl from a life of rape, is that not a great thing.

Would you not think about something like that instead of worrying about phones and badge numbers and Guardas abusing their power making you the victim. You're not the victim. You're the law breaker.

Interviewing punters illegally which this was will will not help any trafficked girl.

IF they want to help trafficked girls the simplest way would be a friendly knock on the door by a female cop with access to interpreters and get speaking to the girls in a language they are fluent in and advising them and offering them protection if they are in fact been pimped. Sadly that would not it appears satisfy Rhuama as they only.seem to.want to persecute men and in reality do not give a shit about the girls.

If any girl that is trafficked for sex here was guaranteed protection and the right to stay and access benefits and work that would be a massive help for girls that find themselves in that position, and minimum 20 year prison sentences for traffickers.

Sadly the easy was is to prosecute a few gullible idiots and damage the business of girls who have chosen this career of their own free will.

[philipkntz]

I'm not pro Guarda but if this operation they're are running saves even one girl from a life of rape, is that not a great thing.

Would you not think about something like that instead of worrying about phones and badge numbers and Guardas abusing their power making you the victim. You're not the victim. You're the law breaker.

They are not going to save any girls this way, as clients are afraid of being prosecuted themselves if they give any useful info.
Btw, Garda badge no should be on their shoulder.

[Mr Sweet Guy]

Does everyone hear the words they type. Nobody is giving any regard to the fact that there could be controlled girls being forced to have sex with random men like yourselves. All you care about is that there are girls there to have sex with when you feel like it.

You're putting Ben on a pedestal, a true hero for the way we handled it.

Why would the guards be polite to you. You don't deserve it. You're breaking the law and you don't give a shit so long as you get your jollies. Those guards know you will pay and fuck a trafficked girl without a care in the world.

You're feeding criminal activities whether you like it or not. There is no way you have never been with a trafficked girl.

Not one person said so far that although they don't agree with the guards, if they save some controlled girls well then something good will come of this. Everyone just cares the can use an escort at their leisure.

When the shit hits the fan people show their true colors, all everyone cares about is themselves and their illegal sex. Nobody showed any consideration for the girls or their welfare in general.

Disgraceful self serving behavior.

Lot of clients do take into consideration of Ladies they meet Mate. It just lot report in discreet if they feel a Lady is been trafficked or pimp.

I always take into consideration of the Ladies I meet and book long appointment, to see if she truly consenting to sex. But like someone said if the Gardai want to get result, they could raid lot of places.

I could say more but I won't. But not all as it seem chap, as corruption is everywhere including the law Mate.

[philipkntz]

Interviewing punters illegally which this was will will not help any trafficked girl.

IF they want to help trafficked girls the simplest way would be a friendly knock on the door by a female cop with access to interpreters and get speaking to the girls in a language they are fluent in and advising them and offering them protection if they are in fact been pimped. Sadly that would not it appears satisfy Rhuama as they only.seem to.want to persecute men and in reality do not give a shit about the girls.

If any girl that is trafficked for sex here was guaranteed protection and the right to stay and access benefits and work that would be a massive help for girls that find themselves in that position, and minimum 20 year prison sentences for traffickers.

Sadly the easy was is to prosecute a few gullible idiots and damage the business of girls who have chosen this career of their own free will.

I don't think that its right to call this an illegal interview, they didn't force the guy into the car. Certainly I wouldn't have got in unless arrested. If they pressured me I'd be asking can I call into the station in my own time.

[SteveB]

I don't think that its right to call this an illegal interview, they didn't force the guy into the car. Certainly I wouldn't have got in unless arrested. If they pressured me I'd be asking can I call into the station in my own time.

Impossible to say, and it is not for us to say, but it is very possible a court would find this interview illegal, or certainly any information or evidence obtained inadmissible.