'Quarter' of informers taken off police books

Almost a quarter of police informers in Northern Ireland have been taken off the books, it has been revealed.

The decision followed three major reviews into how the force manages it intelligence.

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Sheridan, head of Crime Operations Branch, would not reveal how many human intelligence sources are used, citing the chance that it could alert the criminals and terrorists which officers are targeting.

He also said that action had been taken against those believed to be involved in illegal operations, whose services were no longer required.

Mr Sheridan said that when Crime Operations Department was set up in 2004, bringing Special Branch and Crime Branch under the control of one Assistant Chief Constable, a review was carried out by his predecessor, Sam Kinkaid, into the intelligence management system.

ACC Sheridan continued: "As well as leading to 24% of sources being de-activated, that review had four key outcomes.

"It examined the risks associated with intelligence management, it drew up guidelines on how to manage cases where a source is suspected of committing a serious crime, it established new procedures of managing sources, and it created a new unit called the Central Authorisation Bureau to oversee all authorisations for covert policing."

He also referred to how informers had been an essential weapon in the fight against 30 years of terrorist violence in the province.

Amid allegations that some informers are shielded from prosecution, the police chief also issued a warning, saying that he was aware that intelligence sources under police service management have helped save lives and brought offenders to justice, however added that the police force would not have been successful last year in preventing £7 million worth of drugs coming into the province without such assistance.

Mr Sheridan said: "Can I say that these people will never commit unauthorised criminal activity? No I can't.

"But what I can say is that individuals who operate outside their authorisation will be liable to arrest and prosecution in the same way as any other person who breaks the law."

(EF/SP)