THE Police Ombudsman's office has confirmed it has received "a number" of complaints over recent days in relation to Twitter accounts allegedly operated by serving officers and civilian support staff.
One of the complaints is believed to have asked the watchdog to investigate if officers were authorised 'at a higher level' to leak confidential information on police operations, including serious terrorist-related investigations.
The Irish News also understands that a fresh complaint was made yesterday about the activities of two officers, including one who had been stationed in west Belfast.
A member of the public has made allegations about unprofessional conduct and indecent images being sent by a uniformed officer that appear to have been taken inside a police station.
The woman also passed on details of online threats she allegedly received from the @DonYeeoo account when she raised concerns about this activity.
The ombudsman has also been asked to investigate the email account donpeeler@protonmail.com in relation to sensitive, confidential information, and if a police radio was being used by non-PSNI personnel to receive live updates of operations.
As well as allegedly revealing information on live investigations, which could potentially impact on high-profile criminal trials, the accounts also made sectarian, racist and homophobic comments.
One twitter account, @JohnnieAnonie, posted a picture mocking a young man with Down's Syndrome and victims of drug deaths.
The most prolific of the accounts, @DonYeeoo, had been active for almost two years and trolled Alliance MLA Naomi Long among others.
Police confirmed last week they were investigating the accounts, which were all de-activated over a 24-hour period.
While the identities of the officers and support staff are known, as yet there has been no one suspended.
The Police Federation confirmed yesterday that as yet it had not been asked to support any of its members as a result of the investigation.
The SDLP's Patsy McGlone said he was concerned to hear that nobody has been suspended from duty.
"These tweets ranged from highly improper to grossly offensive. If police officers were behind these and the PSNI knows what has been said and posted, why haven't they been suspended?
"It doesn't do much for public confidence when it appears that the PSNI is not taking this type of abuse and trolling seriously. Not to mention the possibility of interfering with the justice system by publicising details of ongoing police operations."
