“The personal information that was released at the press conference was limited to what was already accessible to the media and the public,” the decision says. He said police could not conduct conventional surveillance because local sex trade workers were unwilling to testify for fear of reprisals. A large portion of Williston’s 21-page decision highlights changes to the Criminal Code in 2014 that shifted the focus of the law away from criminalizing sex trade workers. Prior to the sting operation, police went to great lengths to help 37 sex trade workers by offering them counselling, drug treatment and various exit strategies. Jodie Wilson testified that police earned the trust of sex trade workers and encouraged them to identify violent johns.

Source: thestar August 26, 2016 21:33 UTC