§ Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to investigating officers of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise concerning the use of participating informers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeCustoms and Excise issue instructions to their officers about the use of participating informants. I do not propose to place a copy in the Library.
Participating informers are used only with the express authority of senior management within customs who are required to know the proper identity of the informant and are able to consult the solicitor's office of customs, as necessary. Operations of this nature are invariably undertaken by specialist investigators.