A Derry man has claimed that he is being forced to chose between 'exile or death' by the PSNI who he said are trying to pressurise him into acting as an informer.
The man, who asked not to be identified, said that this was the second time in two years that he had been approached by the PSNi.
He claimed: “I am not involved in any movement but for some reason the PSNI seem to feel that they want me to turn in
former. I was approached about two years ago and they tried to pressurise me then and now this has happened.
“I had just left my friend to the City of Derry airport and was driving back towards the city when there was a police car and checkpoint on the road. I slowed down and they asked for my licence and when I gave it to them they told me to pull over.
“As I was sitting there suddenly one of them who was in uniform but I recognised him as a Special Branch man opened the passenger door and climbed in. Another policeman stood blocking the driver’s door so I could not get out.”
The man continued: “This guy started telling me how they only wanted me to help them. They said I was knocking about with some very dangerous people and that they needed my help. They then mentioned a recent holiday I was on and said they were ‘that close’ to getting me in Prague I felt very threatened by the whole thing as I feel they are threatening me and also my livelihood.”
The man said: “Why is it that after al we have heard about the so called new beginning to policing that they are leaving me with the choice of either death or exile because as far as I can see there is not other alternative available for me. They told me they would be in contact again and they added that it would not be as long the next time. What am I supposed to do?”
Yesterday a PSNI spokesperson said: “We do not comment on specific intelligence matters and no inference should be drawn from this.However, like any other police service in England, Scotland, Wales or the Republic of Ireland or further afield, the Police Service of Northern Ireland cannot operate effectively nor can it fulfil its primary function to prevent and detect crime, unless it uses intelligence gathered from a range of sources..
“We have no doubt that intelligence sources under Police Service management have helped save lives and brought offenders to justice.In line with all other police services across the UK, the PSNI's policy in relation to the use of Covert Human Intelligence Sources is strictly governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and is fully compliant with Human Rights legislation.”
