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In my story the police are working undercover, as part of a sting operation. Part of the sting, is an officer pretending to be a blackmailer, wanting to blackmail money out of the gang of villains, or he will turn over evidence on them to the police, unless he is paid.
The goal of the cops is to not have the villains be able to pay, but to send them into a panic to rush to destroy other evidence, and cover their tracks. The police are secretly monitoring them, and will go in and arrest them, once the evidence appears to be unveiled.
However, I was told by some readers that the police are not allowed to blackmail criminals, as part of a sting, as it would legally count ax extortion, or some other felony. Where as other readers tell me that, it's not extortion or a crime at all, because they are just appearing to blackmail the gang for money as part of the sting, to send them into a panic. No money is actually taken, and that was not the goal. So some readers say it's illegal, and some say that's it's okay to tell such lies while undercover as part of a sting.
Does anyone know more of a certainty on this, and what the distinction is? Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it.
The goal of the cops is to not have the villains be able to pay, but to send them into a panic to rush to destroy other evidence, and cover their tracks. The police are secretly monitoring them, and will go in and arrest them, once the evidence appears to be unveiled.
However, I was told by some readers that the police are not allowed to blackmail criminals, as part of a sting, as it would legally count ax extortion, or some other felony. Where as other readers tell me that, it's not extortion or a crime at all, because they are just appearing to blackmail the gang for money as part of the sting, to send them into a panic. No money is actually taken, and that was not the goal. So some readers say it's illegal, and some say that's it's okay to tell such lies while undercover as part of a sting.
Does anyone know more of a certainty on this, and what the distinction is? Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it.