Crime pays, if you're a snitch

1.00pm

Police paid more than $1 million to informants in 2000 and 2003, but the force has declined to say how much each informant was paid and how many convictions the practice led to.

Police national headquarters released its rules for using informants to The Press newspaper after an appeal to the Ombudsman seeking the details.

The rules show people who snitch on criminals can claim mileage and entertainment expenses from the police, and some can expect a weekly retainer.

The police informers policy says a retainer, which may be paid at a weekly rate, can be used in "extraordinary circumstances" if the informant is considered reliable and the criminal activity serious.

Informants can be paid mileage and entertainment costs "if they provide a receipt or suitable explanation for the spending" or for information when on retainer, the newspaper reported today.

"The value placed on this (information) must be decided on a case-by-case basis," the policy says.

Police district commanders can authorise payments up to $2000 to informers and regional commanders can authorise up to $8000. The deputy police commissioner must be advised if the reward is more than $8000.

Use of an informant on a retainer must be reviewed regularly so that the arrangement does not last longer than needed.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor told The Press informants were a "high risk" but vital part of policing.

Use of informants had to be weighed against getting information to provide for the "greater good" and safety of New Zealanders.

Police keep a "book of permanent record", which is destroyed after 10 years, that notes every payment to an informant, the policy says. The book is audited monthly by an appointed officer in each district, and a team from police headquarters does checks yearly.

Confidentiality agreements with Inland Revenue, Treasury and the Auditor-General mean police informant payments are not subject to external auditing.

Informants also get benefits from the police that do not involve money, such as legal help, mediation with other government agencies and letters to the court.

The policy advises officers not to get socially involved with informers or their families unless it is unavoidable.

Canterbury University criminologist Dr Greg Newbold said the policy had good checks and balances to guard against money being ripped off.

But a good policy did not always lead to high-quality information being supplied to police.

High-profile cases had used questionable informants, he told The Press.

"You have to ask why informants are supplying the information," Newbold said.

"Many of them are liars who would sell their own grandmother if it got them somewhere."

- NZPA