Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: FOI-373-2023
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 5th April 2023 as follows:
Using the latest available data and going back to 2015, please provide a year-by-year breakdown of the following:
(a) total number of registered informants for each individual year
Of this total number of registered informants how many were:
(b) Paid Informants
(c) Unpaid informants
(d) Active Participants
And for each year where the Data response for (b) has been given, please provide:
(e) the total figure for all monies paid to informants each individual year since 2015
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Response: Your request has been considered but the information requested is being withheld. Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires Warwickshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt), to provide you the applicant with a notice which:
The following exemption applies:
Section 30(2)(b) – relates to obtaining information from confidential sources
Section 30 is a class based qualified exemption and there is a requirement to carry out a public interest test. Please find this set out below.
Factors favouring disclosure
There is information within the public domain confirming that the Police Service use Covert Human Intelligence Sources to assist them with investigations and the effective delivery of law enforcement. Disclosure would enhance the public understanding of how forces use information relating to informants, and how the intelligence received assists in day to day investigations, such as operations to support the prevention and detection of crime.
Accurate and reliable data disclosed to the public, via official channels, will enable informed and precise public debate around the subject of informants, allowing for greater transparency and accountability. This in turn will enable a more thorough local assessment of the use of informants, including their effectiveness. Disclosure of information, relating to the way in which public funds are being spent, will enable individuals to understand what the police budget allocation is for informants.
Disclosure would also assist in stopping any incorrect rumours or falsehoods relating to how the police store and manage how informants assist the police.
Factors favouring non-disclosure
The Police Service is tasked with protecting the community we serve and solving crime and there is a public interest argument in ensuring we are open and transparent with regard to policing investigations and operations. Disclosure of the requested information could identify informant activity within a force area. Over a period of time, if several disclosures were made, individuals could analyse the information and identify any sudden peaks or troughs in informant activity. This would hinder the prevention and detection of crime and also prejudice the forces’ ability to maintain confidential sources. Consequently the forces’ future law enforcement capabilities would be affected.
It may be viewed by those not involved in the management of informants that a statistical number in itself is unlikely to cause any such adverse effects. However, the subject has to be viewed more as a whole. Those determined to identify informants will use small pieces of information to build a more complete picture, and it is the cumulative effect of information disclosures that the Police Service feel could lead to this.
Balancing Test
There is information within the public domain confirming that police use covert human intelligence sources to assist them with investigations and the effective delivery of law enforcement. However, as has been mentioned, informants play a vital role in assisting the police and this is based very much on relationships built on trust and the expectation of complete confidentiality. Warwickshire Police would never disclose information which would compromise that trust or the force’s tactics.
It is therefore our opinion that the balance lies in favour of non-disclosure of the information.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB