In response to freedom of information requests submitted by The Detail, the force said the report was “not commissioned or written in a format for publication” and is “legally and professionally privileged”.

The review was undertaken by “a then QC” and was completed last year, with a summary of its findings included in the Policing Board’s most recent annual human rights report.

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director at Amnesty International, told The Detail: “It is very disappointing that the PSNI has once again refused to make its review into their disastrous policing operation against journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney public.

“Amnesty International first wrote to the Chief Constable back in January calling for him to publish the full report into this disturbing case.

“The PSNI’s targeting of Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey undermined press freedom in Northern Ireland and came at huge cost to public confidence in policing, as well as to the public purse.

“Five years on from the raids and arrests, no-one within the police has been held accountable and senior management continues to refuse to disclose the full detail of their review.

“Claiming legal privilege simply because the review was written by a lawyer, should not override the overwhelming public interest in having this report made public.

“The public and the Policing Board must fully understand what went wrong, demand accountability and ensure that this never happens again.”