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About Decoy

Winner of 'Best Book' and 'Impact for Change' True Crime Awards 2025 The shocking true story of one of Britain’s most secretive, groundbreaking and successful police covert operations Bristol, 1979. An attacker roams the streets… Young women are warned not to go out alone… Enter the Decoys. For several years, a prolific predator haunted Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police had tried all their usual tactics to catch the ‘Clifton Rapist’, and public pressure was mounting. In 1979, a daring new plan was introduced, unlike anything previously attempted by a UK police force. A small group of young female officers – some aged just 18 – put their lives on the line, walking the quiet residential roads late at night, acting as bait. Drawing on in-depth research and first-hand interviews with the women at the heart of the operation, Decoy is a dramatic retelling of one of the most groundbreaking agent provocateur stings in British history. About the author Robert Murphy is an ITV News correspondent who has spent more than 20 years covering Britain’s biggest crime stories. Rob wrote, presented and produced ITV News’ first two true crime podcasts, No Strings Attached and Catching Melanie’s Killer, and co-authored To Hunt a Killer with Julie Mackay, which was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Non-Fiction. Robert and Julie were also awarded Best New True Crime Authors at the CrimeCon UK True Crime Awards 2023. He directed and presented the Royal Television Society award-winning film 'Decoy'. Robert lives in Bristol with his wife and two sons.