Bring Back the 'Gig' to Australian Law Enforcement: Human Source Developments

There have been decades of change in the movement toward and away from the use of human sources in Australian law enforcement. The more recent resurgence in informant management practice and the associated driving factors for these changes in Australasian covert policing practices are the focus of discussion in this paper. The data forming the basis of for this paper is drawn from qualitative research carried out with seven Australasian policing agencies designed to identify trends in contemporary informant (human source) management. Taking into account the sensitivities surrounding reporting on such research the findings from these studies are discussed in general trends only. This paper reflects on some of these significant historical changes that have occurred within the Australian policing context and focuses on key interviews with law enforcement personnel. Key historical, political, regulatory and social drivers exerting influence on Australian human source management will be examined.