THE PSNI has stopped providing written reports to a local policing watchdog after concerns over "confidentiality" were raised.
It is understood the move came after details of several arms finds in counties Derry and Antrim were made public by The Irish News earlier this year.
Information about the finds were contained in separate PSNI reports to the Causeway Coast and Glens Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP).
The PCSP holds monthly private meetings with police officers at which reports are provided.
Quarterly public meetings are also held.
It is understood private reports have not been made available to members of the Causeway Coast and Glens PCSP since September.
A spokeswoman for the PSNI said a "decision was made in September to suspend providing additional written reports to the Policing and Community Safety Partnership following police concerns regarding the confidentiality of the monthly private meetings.
"These concerns were raised directly to the chair."
The spokeswoman added that "senior command team members continue to attend the monthly private meetings to provide a verbal update and answer any questions from members in respect of the provision of policing for the local community.
"Police continue to provide the statutory required quarterly police reports to the PCSP," she said.
A spokeswoman for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council last night said it has launched a probe.
"Council is currently investigating a matter raised within the membership of the PCSP, and it would be inappropriate to comment further at the time," she said.
In April parts of two rifles were found in Coleraine, Co Derry.
At the time a PSNI spokeswoman said that “no information was issued” to the media regarding the weapons “as there was no operational need”.
In July a revolver and long-barrelled weapon were found during magnet fishing, which involves searching for metal objects in water, at Agivey Bridge, near Ballymoney, Co Antrim.
Police also said that no information was “issued” to the media “as there was no operational requirement”.
On the same day a camouflage belt and rifle wrapped in clingfilm/sheet tape was discovered on a cliff path near a caravan park in Ballycastle.
Police said information was released to media outlets enquiring about the security alert in Ballycastle.
