Conall's News
McDevitt: PSNI Mobile phone incident raises serious questions
SDLP Policing Board member Conall McDevitt has expressed deep concern at the apparent breach of a serving police officer’s security as reported in today’s Irish News.
The South Belfast MLA said: "Today's report raises several serious questions which must be fully investigated by the PSNI and, if necessary, the Police Ombudsman.
"Among these are: was this a PSNI issue phone? If so, was its loss reported? Why were there personal pictures on it and what are the police protocols about the use of PSNI equipment for personal business?
"If it was a private phone, why was it on the officer's person when it appears she was on duty?
"If this is a PSNI phone, the existence of other personal information on it appears to be a direct breach of the PSNI's own security protocols. It not only compromises the officer who owns the phone but colleagues too.
"The vast majority of people in this region reject anyone or any group who target and seek to harm police officers.
"No personal mistakes, if that is what this proves to be, should in any way take away from the basic fact that this incident is clearly being used to generate propaganda value for the same people who thought Ronan Kerr and Stephen Carroll were legitimate targets.
"We all need to ensure that we do not become pawns in any organisation's propaganda wars."