Police pay narks $1.5m

Police have paid nearly $1.5 million to informants in the last five years, but have declined to answer questions about the practice, to protect the "public interest."

In response to an Official Information Act request, police said $285,000 had been paid to informants in the last year.

A total of $1.46 million was paid between 1995 and 2000.

Police declined to say more, citing obligations to protect confidences and the supply of such information.