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A complaint against Cleveland Police has been made over claims it used anti-terror laws to access phone records of six people - including journalists and its own former police federation chairman.

The Police Federation has written a letter of complaint to watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission into its use of RIPA legislation (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000).

It is claimed the force used anti-terror laws to access phone records of six people, including the then chairman of the Cleveland Police Federation, Steve Matthews, three journalists, a serving police officer suspected of being a whistleblower and a solicitor acting on behalf of the federation.

A spokesman for The Police Federation - which represents rank and file police officers, said: “The Police Federation is supporting a complaint by one of its members into Cleveland Police’s use of RIPA legislation.”

The spokesman said the complaint was passed on to the IPCC this morning.

It is believed the alleged “hacking” centres around an investigation into possible “institutional racism” in the force in 2012.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Cleveland Police applies the act (RIPA) and relevant guidance when determining whether to make use of various RIPA authorities in support of the investigation of criminal offences.

“Each year the Interception of Communication Commissioners Office examine our compliance with the act.

“We are aware that certain individuals have provided information to the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), through the local Federation Chairman, regarding their opinion of how Cleveland Police applies the law and guidance relating to RIPA.

“The PFEW have passed this information to the IPCC who will in due course determine their next steps.”

An IPCC spokesperson was unable to confirm whether a complaint had been received from the Police Federation.

However IPCC guidance means that once a complaint is registered, the matter will first be referred back to Cleveland Police to decide if it can be dealt with locally, or if it is so serious it needs to be referred back to the IPCC for independent investigation.