A senior police officer has denied drug dealers in Belfast were being allowed to trade while acting as informers.
Asst Chief Constable Duncan McCausland insisted any informer engaged in criminal activity would face prosecution.
He made the comment on meeting the Northern Ireland Policing Board and a local policing body following the death of a north Belfast teenager.
The suicide of Dean Clarke (16) after taking the horse tranquilliser ketamine led to an outpouring of anger against drug dealers in the loyalist Tiger's Bay area of the city,
"Let me reassure the community that a full and active investigation is being carried out in relation to Dean's death," Mr McCausland said.
"We also stressed in the strongest possible terms that there is no truth in the allegations the police are protecting drug dealers who are sources. Sources are handled in accordance with the strictest national guidelines and are not above the law. If they engage in criminality, they will be arrested and dealt with."
Dean's family and residents in Tiger's Bay have blamed the Ulster Defence Association for his death.
Unionist and nationalist politicians are due to attend today's funeral. Pastor Brian Madden claimed drugs were easy to obtain in the area, with ketamine costing as little as 50 pence.