'Crass and offensive' posters featuring image of Peadar Heffron erected overnight in bid to intimidate people from joining PSNI - appeal for information

And this morning the PSNI issue a statement saying they were aware of the "posters circulating in the Derry/Londonderry area".

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Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: “These posters can only be described as cruel and disgusting and have clearly been created by those who fear a fully representative police service.

“The cowards who hide behind this fake rhetoric and who ridicule the resolve, commitment and bravery of every person who works every day to keep each of you safe, have nothing to offer our society and should be condemned by all right thinking people.

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“I would urge anyone who comes across these posters, either online or physically, not to share or circulate this material further.”

Earlier in a statement, Sinn Fein Foyle MLA Martina Anderson said: "Posters were erected in Derry last night in a disgusting attempt to intimidate the people of the city.

"These posters, which feature an image of Peadar Heffron, a PSNI officer injured in a bomb attack by anti-peace process elements, are crass and grossly offensive.

"Sinn Féin is working to achieve an accountable, civic and representative policing service which polices with all the community.

"The erection of these posters comes on the heels of attempts to intimidate the journalist, Leona O’Neill, and staff at the Andersonstown News and threats to Joint Head of Government Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly.

"This is happening at a time when the debate on Irish unity and change in Irish society has taken centre stage."

She said that those responsible for erecting these posters "have nothing to offer, they have no politics and no strategy to achieve anything".

She added: "It’s well past time they got off the backs of the community.

"This tactic is disgusting and disgraceful and comes and comes from an unrepresentative groups with little support in the community.

"Everyone should have the right to choose their career path free from any fear or intimidation.”

In 2010 and ten years into his policing career Peadar was on his way to work at Grosvenor Road Station in west Belfast and had driven about a mile from his home when a bomb exploded under his car.

He spent the next 10 months in hospital and was left with horrific injuries.