Human Sources

Book excerpt: Human sources, also known as confidential informants, are an essential law enforcement resource in the fight against crime and terrorism. How they are managed has changed little over the years. This book provides law enforcement with details of how to manage human sources, in line with the goals of intelligence-led policing, and in a way that maximizes the amount of information obtained. The book is based on over 35 years of real-world experience and uses research gained from interviews carried out internationally, with hundreds of law enforcement officers. It delivers the structures necessary to ensure ethical behavior and to minimize the risk of corruption. It includes details of new methods that apply psychology, to gain a much greater amount of more accurate information, in interviews with human sources. Written by an internationally recognized expert, it is essential reading for anyone interested in how informants should be managed.