This article addresses the issue of courses that claim to train officers how to manage informants in a few hours.
'Informants used to help free hostages' - The benefits of using human sources
A good news story from Nigeria about the release of hostages. Interestingly in the story is the point they make about using informants to get intelligence about the criminal gangs. Using confidential informants (HUMINT, Human Sources, CHIS) has become very much the poor cousin of intelligence collection. Many have consigned it to the too difficult to do tray in favour of OSINT collection. The reality is that if informants are managed properly the amount and quality of intelligence they produce cannot be surpassed.
Proactive Recruitment of Confidential Informants
Confidential Informant corruption - A gift that keeps on giving
So here we have a few recent news articles relating to police corruption and the management of confidential informants (HUMINT, confidential human sources, covert human intelligence sources, CHIS) Please tell me that you realise this is a problem for law enforcement and not just a problem with “one bad officer”. Corruption relating to managing confidential informants is a big problem and it is not going away.
Confidential informant legislation. New law in Minnesota for informant management.
Confidential Informant corruption. Patterns of behavior and Prevention
Here are two stories about alleged corruption involving confidential informants, one in Pennsylvania and one in Kentucky Both questions beg the question as to who was supervising these officers? This article explores patterns of behavior in informant management that lead to corruption and suggests ways to prevent it. Will be of interest to anyone involved in a drugs task force.
Confidential informant lawsuit - $13 million.
This article discusses a lawsuit against a USA law enforcement agency concerning the alleged wrongful death of a police confidential informant. The family of Troy Howlett are suing the police department and others for $13 million. We discuss what constitutes negligence in the management of informants.
Calls To Abolish Warrants Based On Information From Paid Informants
Australian Royal Commission on the management of police informants
The report of the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants in Victoria, Australia has been released. This article gives some of the background to the case and addresses some of the main recommendations of the report. The report establishes best practice for all law enforcement agencies in Australia and contains a lot of learning for those outside Australia that are involved in managing informants.
Avoiding confidential informant related corruption.
There have been serious allegations of corruption in Detroit Police Department involving a narcotics unit and the mismanagement of confidential informant finances. There are always risks when it comes to managing confidential informants (HUMINT, Human Sources, Covert Human Intelligence Sources) This article discusses some of the ways to manage these risks.
