The law states that when a person provides information to the police in response to a guarantee of confidentiality, that person’s identity is protected by the rule of Informer Privilage. The courts have held that this privilage extends to those providing information anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

When the privilage applies, it acts as a complete bar on the disclosure of the informer’s identity, and the police, the Crown and the courts are bound to uphold it.

Informer Privilage does not apply to a communication to Crime Stoppers made with the intention of furthering criminal activity or interfering with the administration of justice.

Informer Privilage may exist exist but may be limited or set aside in whole or in part, where there is evidence that that disclosure of some or all of a tip is necessary to establish someone’s innocence.