Police spent more than £250,000 on payments to confidential informants in Cumbria in the past five years.

Figures released under a Freedom of Information request reveal the cash payments given to people in exchange for information which could lead to a criminal prosecution.

Amounts vary from small sums for petty crime to thousands paid out in return for breaking up organised crime or uncovering large scale drug rings.

The use of payments to informants is highly-regulated and can only be used where necessary.

The figures in Cumbria have dropped dramatically in recent years, with £61,040 paid out in the 2011/12 financial year, compared with £35,556 in 2015/16.

In five years the force has paid out a total of £250,269.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Slattery said: “Police intelligence sources or 'informants' are one of a number of tools we use, and can be valuable in preventing and solving serious crime. Often police informants help us solve cases quickly and efficiently, which can save the force money overall.

“Not all information provided to police is financially rewarded, as some individuals assist the police as a result of a sense of duty or to protect the public from dangerous criminals.

"The public would rightly expect the constabulary to use all available tactics to ensure they are kept safe from serious crime including violence, sexual offences, drugs and firearms.

“Payments to individuals are only made on positive results, for example when a firearm or stolen property is recovered and are made on a case-by-case basis. The amount of any payments are made in line with nationally set guidelines."

Det Ch Supt Slattery added: “We are committed to keeping Cumbria a safe place to live and work, and use the most appropriate resources to solve or prevent criminal activity.”

North Wales Police paid out the smallest amount, handing over just under £40,000 over five years, while the Met Police topped the table, having paid out £5,270,659.

A Home Office spokesman said decisions on the operational deployment of resources "are matters for chief constables".