1. Dealing with human sources of information in the CMA

2. The British system Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA)
Created idea of the Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS)
Regulated by Office of Surveillance Commissioners (OSC)
Annual inspection
Applies to all public authorities
Duty of care
Importance of confidentiality but absolute guarantees impossible although a judge can grant public interest immunity in criminal cases
To use CHIS, we have to accept all aspects of the system

3. Types of human source
CHIS: can be tasked to covertly pass information to the authorities through the use of a relationship with someone else. Normally kept confidential
Witness: willing to be known to have given evidence
Other (sometimes known as a confidential contact): someone who has no access to current or new information but can tell us about historic matters and wants confidentiality
Contact generally comes through cartels hotline

4. How we manage sources Specially selected and trained staff
Annual update training
Senior management authorisation

5. Rewards Timing and amount are at the CMA’s discretion: no appeal
Takes into account risk to source, difficulty of source’s role, value of information, significance of case
No reward if leniency programme used
Paid in cash and regarded as a gift
Completely confidential, even within the CMA: we tell no one and release no statistics

6. CMA experience thus far
Motivations similar to leniency programme
Operates for us in the same way as for every other British law enforcement agency
Utility depends on national culture
Informing is a normal law enforcement tool in UK
We do not comment on which cases arise from human sources
It is an effective tool for us but that doesn’t mean it will work for everyone