One of the officers is alleged to have breached personal security protocols, while another is alleged to have leaked information on ongoing investigations and another allegedly took part in aggressive online abuse of Alliance MLA Naomi Long.

The latter account also tweeted about Belfast-based human rights lawyer Kevin Winters, who told The Irish News that he plans to complain to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI).

He said: “If these allegations are true then clearly there are serious issues of breach of privacy and data protection in play, systemic leaking of confidential information about police operational matters presents as a threat to due process and the administration of justice.

“PONI need to look at this immediately in order to assess the full extent of the problem, I am surprised to learn just this afternoon that one particular high profile case I am involved in has been referenced in one of these accounts. I am contacting PONI tomorrow to complain both in a personal capacity and on behalf of a number of clients.”