The use of citizen informant networks dates at least as far back as the Roman Empire. Delatores (informants) were recruited from all classes of society, including knights, freedmen, slaves, wealthy families, philosophers, literary men, court officials, lawyers, etc. Similar to the TIPS program, it was an "all hands on deck" approach to empire security. Setups were routine, and informants sometimes received a portion of the land of those who they helped destroy.

https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/hiddenevil/hiddenevil19.htm?fbclid=IwAR0zReBvE5u9VEklmhguM3kiJDMzCo7k5vevY1PBchbUbSWaIJ_zMom3efk