Despite being implicated in the weapon importations, senior members of the UVF, UDA and Ulster Resistance, "some of whom were informants", were not investigated because Special Branch withheld key evidence.    In south Down during the late 1980s and early 1990s, "some police officers (placed) more value on collecting information and protecting their sources than on preventing and detecting crime".    Special Branch failed to pass on intelligence about escalating activities of a "small but ruthless" UVF unit operating in the area[...]