The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Mrs Nuala O'Loan has begun an investigation into claims that officers asked scientists to manipulate forensic evidence.
PSNI Chief Constable Mr Hugh Orde asked for the inquiry after a senior forensics officer made claims of police interference during a recent hearing at Belfast High Court.
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Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Mrs Nuala O'Loan
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Earlier this month, Mrs Ann Irwin of the Forensic Science Agency told a murder trial that police had regularly asked for findings to be manipulated by to cover errors in collecting evidence.
She said the practise had been occurring for a number of years but that the informal requests had always been refused.
Mrs Irwin said senior officers would seek tests to be made for firearms' residue on clothing and other materials despite the possibility of contamination at the crime scene.
Mrs Irwin, who is an expert in firearms residue, was giving evidence in the trial of Mr Thomas Abernethy (34) of Glebe Mews, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, who is charged with attempted murder.
Mr Abernethy denies attempting to murder two policemen and a woman voter in a gun attack on St Mary's Primary School polling station on 7th June, 2001.
During the trial Mrs Irwin said tests could not be performed on Mr Abernethy's clothing because the evidence had been "incorrectly packaged".