Police forces in Wales have paid out £900,000 in the last five years to informants who have provided them with information relating to cimes a Freedom of Information request has discovered.
One of the candidates for the new Police and Crime Commissioner elections has said it will be an issue they have to tackle when elected.
News Wales report:
The revelation comes following Freedom of Information requests by Plaid Cymru. Figures show that the top force for paying informants is the South Wales Police Force. Over the last five years the Bridgend headquartered force has paid out over half a million pounds (£530,755).
In a response to questions whether the information paid for led to any convictions and the combined jail time as a result of information by paid informants the South Wales Police Force said: “No information held. This information is not recorded in any format as part of the force performance data.”
Cardiff South and Penarth by-election candidate for the Party of Wales Luke Nicholas said: “Across Wales forces use policing by payment to informants to ensure safer communities.
A breakdown off all payments can be found with the story.