Published Date: 28.04.2010

The Police Ombudsman Mr Al Hutchinson has said his Office is to begin an investigation into serious allegations reported in the media yesterday earlier this week that police asked a man to commit criminal activity, including planting a gun and explosives on the property of his neighbours.

The newspaper identified a 19 year old from west Belfast who said that while under arrest for shoplifting, police officers asked him to monitor a number of people in return for dropping the charges against him.

The teenager said police also asked him to join a dissident Republican group and report to them on its activities, to plant a gun in the neighbour's car and to leave Semtex explosives in a garden shed. He said they threatened to lay false criminal charges against him if he refused.

Mr Hutchinson said the allegations as reported were extremely serious:

"The allegations made by this young man are that at several levels police attempted to pervert the course of justice. The police actions must be investigated fully. If people are to have confidence in the criminal justice system they must be assured that the police are not above the law," he said.

The Police Ombudsman can initiate an investigate into any policing matter, whether or not there has been a complaint from a member of the public, if he believes it is in the public interest to do so.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The newspaper report was on pages 6 and 7 of Tuesday's Irish News (27 April 2010).