Police Reveal Cost of Informants but Keep Details Secret as Former Detective Calls for More Scrutiny

Police Scotland admit 'public awareness would favour a disclosure'

Metropolitan Police officers outside the Houses of Parliament in London on March 21, 2023. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Seven police forces have revealed details of how much they spend on informants, but have refused to provide details about how many individuals were on their payroll and whether any registered informants have been convicted of crimes.

The Epoch Times made a request to 10 police forces and the National Crime Agency (NCA) under the Freedom of Information Act for information about covert human intelligence sources (CHISs).