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UK: Use of police informers

01 September 1992

A study has shown that nearly 70% of police informers are recruited while in police custody or under investigation for a crime. The study, carried out by a former Detective Inspector, looked at regular informers who tended to be male, under 30, unemployed and with previous convictions. Most detectives have regular informers who are paid between 20 to 100 a time. The motive of detectives in applying "pressure" to recruit informers did so to increase their clear-up rate. For the informers, often recruited while in police cells, money was the main motivation with "enjoyment" of being an informer and expecting a favour in return also playing an important part.

New Home Office guidelines were issued earlier this year governing the use of "resident informers" who are the cream of informers on major crimes (or "protected witnesses" if they are in prison). A "resident informer" is defined as someone who is "an active participant in a serious crime or succession of serious crimes who, after arrest or conviction, elects to identify, give evidence against and provide intelligence about fellow criminals involved in those or other offences" (a serious crime is taken to mean one that could attract a 10 prison sentence or more).

Police Review 14.8.92; Home Office guidelines on resident informers February 1992.