Decoy

The shocking true story of one of Britain’s most secretive, groundbreaking and successful police cover operations

In the late 1970s, at least seven women fell victim to a sexual predator haunting the streets of Bristol. After years of failed attempts to catch the ‘Clifton Rapist’, the police formulated a daring new plan. A small group of young female officers – some aged just 18 – put their lives on the line, walking the streets late at night in the hope the attacker would strike.

Drawing on in-depth research and first-hand interviews with the women at the heart of the operation, Robert Murphy offers a dramatic retelling of one of the most groundbreaking agent provocateur stings in British history.