<P> An informant (also called an informer) is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency . The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants (CI), and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information without the consent of the other parties with the intent of malicious, personal or financial gain . However, the term is used in politics, industry and academia . </P> <P> Informants are commonly found in the world of organized crime . By its very nature, organized crime involves many people who are aware of each other's guilt, in a variety of illegal activities . Quite frequently, confidential informants (or criminal informants) will provide information in order to obtain lenient treatment for themselves and provide information, over an extended period of time, in return for money or for police to overlook their own criminal activities . Quite often, someone will become an informant following their arrest . </P>

What is the meaning of ci in police