The completion of interviews for the position of Northern Ireland's next chief constable. Jon Boutcher, who has been serving as the interim chief constable since last month, and Bobby Singleton, an assistant chief constable, were among the candidates interviewed for the role. The successful candidate will become the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) sixth leader in 22 years.
The interviews took place in Belfast and were conducted by a five-person panel consisting of Policing Board members. The panel included board chairwoman Deirdre Toner, independent member Mukesh Sharma, and Stormont assembly members Gerry Kelly of Sinn Féin, Joanne Bunting of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and Nuala McAllister of the Alliance Party. An external policing advisor provided advice but was not involved in scoring or decision-making.
The appointment of the new chief constable will require approval from Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris in the absence of a Stormont justice minister. The vacancy arose following the resignation of Simon Byrne in September, who stepped down amid various controversies within the PSNI, including a court ruling that found two junior officers were unlawfully disciplined and several data breaches.
The chief constable position is considered one of the most demanding roles in UK policing and carries a salary of £220,000. The contract will initially be for five years but can be extended thereafter.