THE PSNI has confirmed it is investigating claims that several anonymous social media accounts are being run by serving police officers.
It emerges after a Twitter profile that alluded to being a PSNI officer or official was recently removed from the site.
The account, known as 'DonYeeoo', regularly tweeted opinions about policing operations and appeared to disclose information before the PSNI.
A complaint involving this Twitter profile has also been made to the Police Ombudsman's office.
Although 'DonYeeoo' had described itself as a "100 per cent parody" and "not real police", there have been questions over the content of the posts online.
In one tweet remarking on shootings in Bangor, it said: "So much for being off."
Last month it described how an officer was struck by a stolen car in Belfast, adding: "That's two incidents where police officers had the right to empty bullets into the car and didn't."
The account also made divisive remarks unrelated to policing.
In April it tweeted that it would "spit on an SDLP LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] canvasser".
Another tweet read: "It's hard for me to support the pro-choice movement – 80 per cent of the people are insufferable gross c**** and I don't want to help them."
The profile gained prominence last year for criticising chief constable George Hamilton over remarks he made on Twitter.
Mr Hamilton had appeared to dismiss police work pressures, tweeting: "Dry your eyes, do the job or move on." He later apologised to officers.
In May, when asked about the 'DonYeeoo' profile, the PSNI said it was "aware" of the account but "it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage".
But after further questions following its removal from Twitter, police confirmed they are investigating several social media accounts.
Assistant chief constable Mark Hamilton, who is responsible for professional standards, said in a statement: "I can confirm that PSNI is examining material posted on personal social media accounts by a number of individuals and are undertaking investigations to establish if the individuals are all serving officers.
"At this stage it would be inappropriate to provide responses to queries raised in relation to one individual."
