Police remain tight-lipped on how much money is paid to informants in the Southern district.
Nationally, almost $2 million was paid to informants over the past five years, but police have declined to release district figures.
From 2005 to the 2010 financial year, $1,963,960 was paid to criminal informants.
The Otago Daily Times requested details under the Official Information Act on how much was paid, the criteria involved, and how many crimes were solved, as the result of paying informants.
Police National Headquarters acting national crime manager Bruce Shadbolt declined to release district specific figures, "as to do so would indicate to criminals the level of police activity in this area".
The release of information concerning how many cases, payment ranges, and the number of crimes solved through the use of informants was also refused "as the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the maintenance of the law including the prevention, investigation and detection of offences and the right to a fair trial," he said.
The ODT is appealing this decision with the Ombudsman.
Only commissioned police officers were authorised to approve payments to informers, including district commanders, who can sign off payments of up to $8000 and area commanders, up to $2000. Rewards over $8000 must be authorised by the deputy commissioner.
Dunedin-Clutha police area commander Inspector Dave Campbell said "police receive information from a wide cross-section of the community in relation to criminal offending, including people who are paid informants, and like all witnesses they can be a valuable tool for police."
