Housing chiefs are set to replace the locks in hundreds of homes in north Belfast at an estimated cost of tens of thousands of pounds after master keys allowing entry to properties were given to the PSNI.
It is estimated that more than 500 flats in New Lodge and Mount Vernon may be affected after the Irish News revealed that police had been given the master keys for some of the properties.
Residents in the nationalist New Lodge have spoken of their anger after the keys - giving police access to flats in seven tower blocks in the area - were handed over without their knowledge.
While police have said they have returned seven master keys for high rise homes in New Lodge to the housing executive, the whereabouts of keys for flats in two tower blocks in Mount Vernon remained unclear last night.
In a statement housing chiefs said they had offered to change the locks of people living in the New Lodge tower blocks after concerns were raised.
Officials have also offered to change the locks of dozens of flats in the Mount Vernon area even though police insisted they were only given keys to access flats in New Lodge.
A letter from the Housing Executive was also hand delivered to every resident living in the New Lodge and Mount Vernon tower blocks yesterday.
In a statement the PSNI Inspector Paul Noble said: "Police can confirm that seven sets of keys were handed in to Tennent Street station at the beginning of June.
"These keys were for the seven accommodation blocks in the New Lodge area only.”
The senior officer also said police do not have keys for flats in Mount Vernon.
“PSNI have been asked if we hold keys to similar accommodation blocks in the Mount Vernon area,” he said.
“We have confirmed that we do not."
Despite this the housing executive has offered to change the locks on the Mount Vernon flats and confirmed it has made contact with the PSNI about the Mount Vernon master keys.
A spokeswoman said: “After contacting the PSNI today, they have advised they are not in possession of a set of master keys for Mount Vernon.
“As a result, the Housing Executive has taken the decision to offer a change of locks for each resident in Mount Vernon.
“The Housing Executive regrets any inconvenience caused.”
Gerard Brophy, who lives in the Meabh House tower block in New Lodge, had earlier called for locks to be changed.
“It should never have happened in the first place and there should have been consultation from the start and we would not be in the mess we are in,” he said.
While a spokeswoman declined to answer any further questions from the Irish News on the issue, the housing executive told the Belfast Telegraph that "police did not have master keys for Mount Vernon homes".
Sinn Féin assembly member Carál Ní Chuilín welcomed the return of the New Lodge master keys to the housing executive.
“In order to offer assurance to the residents they should be given the option of having their locks changed,” she said.
“An explanation is needed from the Housing Executive as to why this step was taken in the first place as it was a clear breach of the residents' privacy.”
