PSNI: Investigation into ex-officer accused of rape looking at 'hundreds' of incidents

The workload entailed in an investigation into alleged sexual offences against a number of potential victims by a former police officer is believed to be "absolutely huge", a Northern Ireland assembly member has said. The former officer was arrested by Police Ombudsman investigators last December on suspicion of "more than ten" non-recent offences, including rape and misconduct in public office. The incidents, alleged to have occurred between 2000 and 2009, are understood to number more than 100. The Alliance Party's Nuala McAllister raised concern over the extent to which the Police Service of Northern Ireland was aware of the suspect's behaviour at the time of the alleged offending. Some of the incidents involved in the ombudsman's investigation are believed to have taken place in police custody suites, the Nolan Show understands. Earlier, Police Ombudsman Hugh Hume said in a statement that the investigation has identified "multiple potential victims together with a substantial number of witnesses". The PSNI said it "welcomes and will fully co-operate with the investigation". McAllister told the Nolan Show that when she first became aware of the accused's arrest last year, her "u