Role and importance of confidential assistance in operational investigative activities
Authors:
1.
Kaliningrad branch of St. Petersburg University of the Russian Interior Ministry
(Operativno-razysknaya deyatel'nost', Teacher)
Gurievsk, Kalinigrad, Russian Federation
Gurievsk, Kalinigrad, Russian Federation
Type:
Article
Pages:
from 106
to 113
Status:
Published
Received:
27.09.2025
Accepted:
11.10.2025
Published:
22.12.2025
Language:
Russian
Keywords:
Operational investigative activities, confidential assistance, secret staff, legal regulation, crime detection.
Abstract (English):
Introduction. The effectiveness of law enforcement agencies largely depends on the timely receipt of reliable information about individuals preparing, committing, and having committed crimes. Confidential assistance to operational units of internal affairs agencies plays a special role in this process, representing a covert form of interaction that ensures the receipt of primary operationally significant information that is unavailable using overt methods. In the theory of operational investigative activities, there are active discussions about the nature and significance of confidential assistance in modern conditions, which determines the relevance of a comprehensive study of this institution. Methods. The methodological basis of the study, the results of which are presented in the article, consisted of a set of methods based on dialectical cognition of the surrounding reality. In addition, the study used a set of scientific methods characteristic of legal science, including deduction, induction, historical, statistical, comparative legal, formal-legal, systems methods, content analysis of documents, problem-thematic analysis, an interdisciplinary approach, etc. Results. A historical and legal analysis revealed that the institution of confidential assistance has undergone a long evolution from ancient Chinese practices to a legal phenomenon enshrined in modern Russian legislation. A direct correlation has been established between the effectiveness of the confidential assistance system and the crime detection rate: during periods of restrictions imposed on undercover work, a 25-30% decrease in detection rates was observed. A statistical analysis of official data from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs revealed that confidential assistance facilitates the detection of up to 70% of drug-related crimes, up to 60% of economic offenses, and up to 80% of crimes committed by organized groups. The author identified four of the most problematic aspects of confidential assistance: the balance between effectiveness and security, the legal status of sources, criteria for evaluating effectiveness, and the ethical aspects of this type of interaction. To improve the effectiveness of operational investigative activities, a systematic solution to these issues is necessary.
Introduction. The effectiveness of law enforcement agencies largely depends on the timely receipt of reliable information about individuals preparing, committing, and having committed crimes. Confidential assistance to operational units of internal affairs agencies plays a special role in this process, representing a covert form of interaction that ensures the receipt of primary operationally significant information that is unavailable using overt methods. In the theory of operational investigative activities, there are active discussions about the nature and significance of confidential assistance in modern conditions, which determines the relevance of a comprehensive study of this institution. Methods. The methodological basis of the study, the results of which are presented in the article, consisted of a set of methods based on dialectical cognition of the surrounding reality. In addition, the study used a set of scientific methods characteristic of legal science, including deduction, induction, historical, statistical, comparative legal, formal-legal, systems methods, content analysis of documents, problem-thematic analysis, an interdisciplinary approach, etc. Results. A historical and legal analysis revealed that the institution of confidential assistance has undergone a long evolution from ancient Chinese practices to a legal phenomenon enshrined in modern Russian legislation. A direct correlation has been established between the effectiveness of the confidential assistance system and the crime detection rate: during periods of restrictions imposed on undercover work, a 25-30% decrease in detection rates was observed. A statistical analysis of official data from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs revealed that confidential assistance facilitates the detection of up to 70% of drug-related crimes, up to 60% of economic offenses, and up to 80% of crimes committed by organized groups. The author identified four of the most problematic aspects of confidential assistance: the balance between effectiveness and security, the legal status of sources, criteria for evaluating effectiveness, and the ethical aspects of this type of interaction. To improve the effectiveness of operational investigative activities, a systematic solution to these issues is necessary.
Keywords:
Operational investigative activities, confidential assistance, secret staff, legal regulation, crime detection.
Operational investigative activities, confidential assistance, secret staff, legal regulation, crime detection.
