Police in Northern Ireland have set up a special unit to warn thousands of prison officers that paramilitary organisations may have their details, it emerged tonight.
The unit was set up after police raids on Sinn Fein's Stormont office and allegations of a republican spying ring.
Names, addresses and telephone numbers of as many as 2,000 prison service staff were discovered on documents during searches in north and west Belfast, it was reported.
As security was stepped up around homes across Northern Ireland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed the move.
A spokeswoman said: "Following recent finds of intelligence material in Belfast a special unit has been set up to warn people that information on them is in the hands of a paramilitary organisation."
PA