“Touting” and the ethics of gathering information…
A number of years ago the Andersonstown News carried on a front page headline the phrase: “Ten Pound Touts.” “Ten Pounds Touts” was a reference to what was perceived at the time (and indeed is still perceived by some people) as the practice by the RUC/PSNI of recruiting as informers (touts) young people involved in car crime, anti-social behaviour, or low level crime. These youths were/are given small amounts of money for doing this – allegedly as little as a …
