8 February 2017, 10:02 GMT
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Data, disclosed to the BBC Radio 5 under the freedom of information act, showed 19.59 million pounds ($24 million) were paid in England and Wales in 2011-2016, more than a quarter of that sum by London's Metropolitan Police.
Further 2 million pounds were spent in Northern Ireland during the same period, while Scottish police paid an estimated 565,248 pounds to informants in 2013-2016.
"This is a well-established and highly regulated, worthwhile, and cost effective tactic, with the money paid to informants being very closely scrutinised," Deputy Chief Constable in Leicestershire Police Roger Bannister told the outlet.
Sums varied from several pounds to thousands, the broadcaster said. It cited a former undercover police officer, Ronnie Howard, as saying that in one case 15,000 pounds were paid over 12 months to recover 3 million pounds worth of cannabis.
