Tape of police interview with sex offender found on train
Thursday, May 08, 2008
By Claire McNeilly
A young woman last night spoke of her shock after she found a cassette on a
train with a recording of an interview with the PSNI and a convicted sex
offender.
Ashleigh Boyd, from Carrickfergus, was travelling from Belfast Great
Victoria Street to Central Station on Wednesday when she found the tape on a
seat.
The 23-year-old civil servant said she was horrified when she discovered it
was a recording of an interview between a registered sex offender and a
police officer, dated April 22, 2008.
The PSNI last night insisted this was not missing data and that they had no
control over tapes given to individuals.
But, speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Miss Boyd said she was unnerved by
what she heard on the cassette.
"There have been so many sexual assault crimes in Belfast over the last
few weeks, it's shocking when you come across something like this," she
said.
"It raises so many questions as to how sex offenders are treated and it
worries me to know they could be walking around freely.
"Surely stuff like that — which contains sensitive, personal
information about offenders — shouldn't be lying around on public transport.
"
Police said: "In certain cases, when a tape recorded interview is
carried out by police the person being interviewed is entitled to receive a
taped copy of the interview if they so desire.
"When these tapes are provided, the person receiving will sign for a
receipt of same. They then become both the property and responsibility of
the person concerned.
"Police have no control over any tapes once provided to individuals."
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