The Snitch: Cessnock cop’s epic spray goes viral

What did a Cessnock cop say to an arrestee to go viral? Which lawyer claimed most Legal Aid payments? And why are organised crime figures using booking agents? The Snitch is here.

A Cessnock cop has gone viral thanks to her debating skills with an argumentative arrestee who was refusing to go quietly — despite being held in the back of a paddy wagon.

The video has amassed more than 253,000 views and almost 500 comments – almost all in support of the cop – on one Instagram account alone and came across Snitch’s desk this week.

It showcases a specialised skill that cops like her possess: how to deal with combative idiots.

And it’s also a reminder of the scenarios beat cops have to deal with as part of their day-to-day jobs that don’t always conform to the rules of the sanitised and safe workplaces that most people know.

In this case, the officer was one of several Hunter Valley cops who had arrested the man for a theft and loaded him into the back of police paddy wagon CK28.

A social media video featuring a Cessnock police officer delivering a withering spray to an argumentative arrestee has gone viral on social media. Picture: Instagram

You’d think the fact that the man was under arrest in a caged truck would make him twig to the fact that his standing to argue with the cops was somewhat diminished.

But that wasn’t the case here. The video begins with the man complaining to the officer: “You do what you have to do.”

The officer sets him straight: “I’m not gonna Taser you. You’re the one that stole shit. You’re the one with a warrant. You’re the one in the dog box.”

The man retorted with: “Yeah, whoop-de-do.”

Our cop quickly cuts him off with, “Whoopty-do. Stop being a f..kwit.”

When the man continued grumbling and said “At least I’ve got a job”, the cop ended the conversation.

“What, stealing shit? Is that your job?” the officer said.

CLAIMING VICTORY

Defence lawyers often grumble about appearing in poorly paid Legal Aid matters, but it turns out it’s quite a lucrative exercise if played right.

That said, no one is saying it’s easy work.

The latest annual report for the taxpayer-funded legal service that helps the less wealthy class of accused people pay for their court cases reveals the biggest claimant for the year.

Lawyer Ross Hill. Picture: AP Photo

Come on down Ross Hill & Associate Solicitors. The Sydney CBD firm was paid $1.8m by Legal Aid in the 2022-23 financial year.

The amount was paid out for appearances in 251 cases.

It returned the firm to the top of the list after it was the third-biggest claimant the year before with $901,312 from 912 cases.

Rounding out the top five on the most recent list were Sydney firms Ryan Payten Le ($1.6m), Karim and Nicol Lawyers ($1.1m) and Inner West Solicitors ($1.08m).

The biggest earning regional firm was Port Macquarie’s Tony Cox Lawyers & Conveyancers, paid $921,000.

DIRTY WEEKEND

Snitch has been made aware of a trend among organised crime groups we’d describe as “holiday booking agents for drug manufacturing syndicates”.

Organised crime groups have been hiring short term Airbnb and rental properties before converting them into drug labs. Picture: QPS

It stems from organised crime groups that hire short term Airbnb and rental properties before converting them into drug labs.

We’re told a number of these groups have go-to people whose sole job is to use their names to book the properties for the crime groups.

The person needs to be a cleanskin, or at least someone who is not going to raise any red flags for authorities or rental organisations.

We’re told one Sydney-based group that employs the tactic has a man based in Melbourne that they use.

The group then moves into the properties for periods ranging from a few days to a few weeks.

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