En Algérie, on distingue deux types: - la méthode de coopération informelle qui rentre dans le cadre de la coopération policière (demandes d'éléments ou d'informations simples telles que la localisation des personnes, l'identification des utilisateurs des numéros de téléphone), - la méthode formelle nécessitant l'introduction d'une demande d'entraide judiciaire par les autorités judiciaires du pays requérant (commission rogatoire) qui peut avoir pour objet l'audition des témoins ou des détenues, la perquisition, la saisie  provisoire ou toute autre procédure spécifique touchant à la liberté des personnes.

Law enforcement authorities should consider seeking informal (agency to agency, or police to police) assistance before making a formal mutual legal assistance request, as information can be provided more quickly through these informal channels. Australian authorities may be able to provide the following types of assistance on an agency to agency basis: taking voluntary witness statements, conducting voluntary witness interviews, taking voluntary witness testimony via a video link facility, hosting foreign police who are conducting inquiries in Australia, sharing intelligence, conducting physical surveillance, obtaining criminal records, or obtaining publicly available material.

Police to police cooperation is available. However, requests between police authorities do not allow for the use of compulsory evidence gathering orders, such as the issuance of subpoenas or production orders, the execution of search warrants or other Criminal Code warrants.

De manière générale, la coopération policière permet l'échange d'informations, notamment au sein de l'Union européenne (décision-cadre 2006/690/JAI du Conseil de l'Union européenne du 18 décembre 2006 relative à la simplification de l’échange d’informations et de renseignements entre les services répressifs des Etats membres de l'Union européenne). Dans ce cadre de la coopération policière, une aide peut donc être fournie sans demande formelle d'entraide judiciaire.Toutefois, toute demande qui requiert, pour son exécution, l'autorisation ou l'intervention d'une autorité judiciaire (procureur ou juge) doit faire l'objet d'une demande formelle d'entraide judiciaire (notamment pour l'obtention de toute donnée relative aux données de trafic et de contenu).

Informal cooperation is carried out through the 24/7 Unit at the Ministry of Internal Affairs as an informal cooperation channel.

§§ 61a, 92 of the German Law on International Assistance in Criminal Matters (IRG) provides for the possibility to transmit personal data without request. In the field of direct police cooperation, § 14 of the "Law on the Bundeskriminalamt and the Cooperation between Federal and State Authorities in Criminal Police Matters" (BKAG) entitles the Bundeskriminalamt to transmit personal data under certain conditions to police and justice or other public authorities responsible for the prevention and prosecution of crimes in other countries as well as to international and supranational authorities dealing with the prevention and prosecution of crimes.

Informal information exchange, not requiring a formal MLA request, is allowed when the requested information is not intended to be used as evidence. Any requests for evidence to be used in criminal proceedings must be in the form of an MLA request.

Some assistance can be provided informally without a formal MLA request.

New Zealand Interpol, and a specific cybercrime centre set up at Police National Headquarters, can provide informal assistance which may not require the involvement of this office.

The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act sets out the types of assistance that can be formally provided, including s 5 which allows us to provide other forms of assistance not specifically referred to in the Act.

In certain cases, assistance can be provided informally without a formal MLA request.

Generally, all requests for assistance requiring more formal cooperation need an MLA request. In particular, a formal request is required for evidence to be used in forthcoming judicial proceedings and assistance involving the use of coercive measures. In some cases, before the issuance of formal MLA request, States issue informal requests.