At least twenty-five supergrasses emerged during this period, providing information which led to the arrests of nearly 600 suspects. At one stage around 230 men were held in prison on their evidence. The courts were initially enthusiastic about the supergrass phenomenon. In one case a judge described aspects of a supergrass’s testimony as ‘unreliable, false, bizarre and incredible’ but then went on to convict defendants on the basis of other parts of his evidence.
