Television footage of an RUC vehicle apparently mounting a pavement and driving at a group of children in Belfast has sparked an investigation by the force's watchdog.
Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman, Ms Nuala O'Loan, decided to personally investigate the incident filmed during nationalist disturbances in Ardoyne, north Belfast, last week, her spokesman confirmed.
Mrs O'Loan's office is also handling individual complaints of police assault in Ardoyne last Thursday and during loyalist riots in Portadown, Co Armagh, days earlier.
It is also looking into the firing of plastic baton rounds by RUC officers during the trouble which erupted in both areas over controversial parades - plastic bullet discharges are automatically investigated by the Ombudsman.
But the use of the Land Rover in Ardoyne is the only instance in this summer's disturbances of Mrs O'Loan stepping in personally to investigate an incident.
The Ombudsman's office, which was set up last November, has so far received 10 complaints alleging assault at Portadown and three in Ardoyne.
PA