Police Informants Fees

[vortex]

What are people's thoughts on this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38902480

[Canary42]

Difficult to say since there are no figures for convictions arising.

But with Terrorists around, it seems a good idea - haven't there been several caught after tip-offs and before they could act ?

[youngmafbog]

The problem with this is similar to the problem with information obtained through torture, how reliable is the information and are they just trying to give you the answer you want to hear.

However, information has to be obtained somehow so it shouldnt be discounted so long as the money is not given to active criminals nd the sum is not out of proportion.

[ToraToraTora]

I think it's a bad but necessary aspect of crime fighting.

[vortex]

I would also like to see the amount of successful convictions arising.

Certainly a tricky one. Would be particularly interesting to read the thoughts of anyone on here with a police background to give further insight.

[ummmm]

I doubt they get paid until the information has been checked.

[EDDIE51]

It's not new this has been going on ever since there was a Police force.
Ever heard the term 'Copper's Nark' a slang name for someone who gives information to the police in return for money.

[vortex]

Eddie, yes.

I was thinking more about the figures involved.

[EDDIE51]

Cultivating his / her 'team' of informants is something every CID officer (and others) does as a matter of routine. Good informants are highly valued and an officer will often give them money 'just to keep them sweet' Each officer will jealously guard and keep secret his list of informers to try to get the edge over other officers in making arrests.
Secret information can not be used in a trial. The idea is that the officer uses the information from his 'narks', to aid his investigations and obtain information that can be used in court.
The BBC artical is naive in the assumption that convictions are a direct result of information from paid informers , they very rarely are. That is just not how it works.If an informer was identified in a case it would end that informants usefulness to 'his ' officer as well as putting his/her life in danger!

[EDDIE51]

Vortex as I just said, it is impossible to put numbers on how many convictions are made as a result of paid informers. But such information forms a major part of many investigations especially where 'gangs' of some form are involved, as it is often the only way to get such information. Again I have to stress that informers ONLY give information on condition that their identity is never revealed!

[vortex]

Eddie, thanks for your contributions.