Serious Questions Raised After PSNI Staff Member Charged
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Policing issues Alex Maskey has demanded that the British
Secretary of State Peter Hain make an urgent statement after a PSNI Administrative
worker was charged with possessing documents and of illegally accessing the
PSNI computer system.
Mr Maskey said:
"Throughout the
weekend republicans and nationalists have been visited in their homes and
warned of a significant threat against them. They were told that their
personal details were in the hands of unionist paramilitaries. It is
believed that the organisation involved is the UVF.
"This
situation has now become even more serious with the news that a member
of
the PSNI Administrative team has been charged in connection with these
matters
and according to the information placed before the courts today this
intelligence
gathering operation has been ongoing for 5 years.
"This raises a
number of very serious questions both for the PSNI and the
British
Government.
. How was this operation allowed to go on for so long
without being
detected?
. What has happened to the much talked
about mechanisms and procedures which
we are told were put in place
to prevent this type of policing?
. Where did this individual work and
what documents had he access to?
. How many people have been placed in
danger?
. What measures are being put in place to help these people?
"Sinn
Féin will be raising this matter with both governments. The
information
so far given to those people under threat is completely
inadequate. We
need a speedy and detailed statement from Peter Hain on this
matter
without any further delay." ENDS