A SENIOR police officer has insisted the PSNI had no "formal meetings" with an alleged UVF leader about a controversial loyalist bonfire in east Belfast.
However, individuals "will have come into contact with police officers as they go about their daily work", Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said.
"I don't style that as a meeting. It shouldn't be characterised that we're in some way in cahoots with that individual, that we're bending to their will, or seeking their support," he said.
Mr Todd was speaking yesterday following claims that police "engaged" with Stephen Matthews amid tensions over a bonfire in a car park at Avoniel Leisure Centre.
Mr Matthews has been widely named as the leader of the east Belfast UVF, however he denies it.
Loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson claimed Mr Matthews was among members a group calling itself the East Belfast Cultural Collective who engaged with senior police officers about the bonfire.
"He played an extremely positive role as part of the collective in ensuring we had a peaceful cultural celebration at Avoniel," he said.
"Stephen Matthews has never been convicted of membership of any proscribed organisation.
"Stephen Matthews robustly denies being the leader of the east Belfast UVF."
On Saturday, new chief constable Simon Byrne said the PSNI would "not tolerate" the UVF and would "take it on using all the powers" it has.
Mr Todd was asked today whether Mr Matthews was part of a meeting with police about Avoniel bonfire.
"There had been no formal meetings or scheduled meetings or diary meetings between any senior member of this organisation and the individual you name to which I am aware of, and I have checked with all the local officers responsible," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show.
"However, that individual has been present along with others from the East Belfast Cultural Collective at a number of sites and will have come into contact with police officers as they go about their daily work.
"I don't style that as a meeting. It shouldn't be characterised that we're in some way in cahoots with that individual, that we're bending to their will, or seeking their support."
Last week plans to remove Avoniel bonfire were abandoned by Belfast City Council following a stand-off with loyalists.
The council's hired contractor pulled out of the job after sinister graffiti threats appeared close to the site purporting to identify the company.
The PSNI also warned the council that sending in contractors, flanked by police, could have prompted serious disorder orchestrated by the east Belfast UVF.
Mr Todd said the PSNI engaged with a "wide spectrum of bodies" but they "don't engage with crime gangs" or "paramilitary bodies".
However, he added: "There will always be people on the fringes or in fact involved in those organisations who aren't subject to any criminal convictions who will put themselves forward in various circumstances and in various scenarios, but we don't meet with the Ulster Volunteer Force or its convicted representatives or anybody convicted of membership of it."
