LISTEN: PSNI not yet commenced investigation into Coronavirus grants scheme

By PA Reporter

The PSNI has confirmed it has not yet commenced an investigation into issues around the erroneous payments to ineligible businesses through Stormont’s emergency Covid grant scheme.

Three Sinn Fein activists resigned after it emerged there was a delay in repaying unsolicited £10,000 grants which were wrongly paid into party accounts.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton asked police to investigate whether “a potential offence” may have been committed.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne told the Northern Ireland Policing Board that an investigation has not yet started.

Simon Byrne

“A political representative did personally report this matter to me last Friday and we assessed what was said there, and, as would be the course in terms of our crime recording rules, recorded a crime, but we have not yet begun an investigation,” he said.

“Effectively we are waiting for a determination from the Department for the Economy, who are effectively the complainant, as to whether they see that the standard has been met that there has been criminal behaviour as opposed to any other form of issue.

“As soon as we have clarity on that point from them, I can let you know.”