Informants

The use of informants by the police service is well known and is governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, 2000. In relation to your request, Cleveland police can disclose that £47,615 is recorded as being spent in the financial year 2001/2002 by this force on the obtaining of information to combat crime.In 2002/2003 the figure was £51,590.06, in 2003/2004 it was £54,114.97, in 2004/2005 it was £51,595, 2005/2006 £51,744.93, 2006/2007 £35,704.98, 2007/2008 £47,769.97, The figure for 2008/2009 was £46,324.98. Figures prior to 2001 are not available.

The above amounts do not include any payments made to informants where funding may have been supplied by exempt bodies.

This notice acts as a refusal notice under the provisions of S17 (1) of the Freedom of information Act 2000. By virtue of the listed exemption Section 23 Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters.

The police service works in partnership with other agencies in order to combat issues such as terrorism and organised crime. As such, funding may sometimes be provided by bodies listed at section 23(3) In this case, I am unable to confirm or deny whether such funding has been provided to this force within the time periods specified above, by virtue of section 23 (5) of the act.
Section 23(5) is an absolute exemption and does not require the public interest to be considered. This should not be taken as confirmation or denial that Cleveland police did or did not receive such funding during the time period specified by your request.

If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request you have the right to request that we review your case under our review procedure. If you decide to request that such a review is undertaken and following this process you are still dissatisfied you then have the right to direct your complaint to the Information Commissioner for consideration.

If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Jim Conlin

FOI Decision Maker