Bryson files official complaint to Police Ombudsman over arrest in UVF probe
LOYALIST blogger Jamie Bryson has confirmed he filed a complaint with the Police Ombudsman yesterday morning following his arrest last week.
Bryson was arrested last Thursday after Paramilitary Crime Task Force and Security Industry Authority (SIA) searches in Ards and North Down.
The PSNI said the arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into criminality linked to the east Belfast UVF.
He was held on suspicion of unlawfully supplying door staff.
The loyalist denies any wrongdoing.
The Police Ombudsman’s Office said it had received the complaint and would be investigating the matter.
The Unionist Voice blogger said that the complaint related to exchanges on social media, which he alleged identified him as the person who was arrested.
“I have specified the times and dates of the correspondence in which by virtue of those messages that I was the person arrested and also made a number of disparaging remarks about me,” Bryson said.
“It is wholly inappropriate, because regardless of whether I have been widely identified or
Denials: Jamie Bryson
have named myself, the police still have to maintain the position that they don’t comment on individuals.”
He added that the complaint also concerned another police officer who allegedly tipped off the media prior to his arrest.
“A specific officer is named and I have requested that this officer be suspended,” he said.
“My understanding is he is continuing to brief the media, which I believe is unauthorised.
“It is entirely unlawful, outside his remit and in breach of my privacy.”
The loyalist said that he was still unable to publish a CD of his police interviews, a matter he says is now the subject of High Court proceedings.
He also attempted to clear up confusion surrounding his role in dealing with security companies, and said he had been contacted by the SIA prior to his arrest.
“There’s a company registered to me called J and J Security Services, which has never traded. The SIA wrote to me and asked me a series of questions about the company,” Bryson said.
In documents seen by the Belfast Telegraph, Bryson contacted SIA and told it the company was not active and had been registered to secure the name.
“They were in possession of all the information before they activated the arrest,” he said.
“My involvement with the security industry is as a sole trader with JWB consultancy and I offered them all my tax returns, accounts and documents related to that.
“I provide administrative services to a sole trader who supplies SIA door supervisors and that individual is entirely licensed and lawful.”
The PSNI said it did not comment on named individuals and no inference should be drawn from this.