New PSNI Chief Constable Appointed

A former head of Cheshire Police has been appointed as the next chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Simon Byrne will succeed George Hamilton, who is set to retire at the end of June. His policing experience includes three years leading the Cheshire force up until 2017, as well as being the deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester Police from 2009 to 2011. He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in the 2016 New Year Honours list.

The Northern Ireland Policing Board unanimously agreed to ratify the recommendation of the appointment panel and instate Mr Byrne in the role at the end of next month.

Speaking about the appointment, Board Chair Anne Connolly said: "I am pleased to confirm that Simon Byrne QPM is the successful candidate from this competition.

"Policing is one of Northern Ireland's most important public services with the community rightly expecting the highest standards from its officers and staff. Mr Byrne brings a wealth of strategic and operational policing experience to the role - he has 36 years of policing experience, 21 years as a Chief Officer and almost 8 as a Chief Constable serving the Metropolitan Police, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire. We are looking forward to working with him in further developing the PSNI as a highly professional and community focused organisation.

"With this leadership position carrying significant organisational responsibilities the appointment necessarily comprised a rigorous selection process involving a panel of seven Board Members. Based on the key principles of merit, fairness, openness and transparency, independent scrutiny was incorporated at all stages of the competition to provide added probity and assurance."

Three other candidates were interviewed for the job, which is salaried at £207,489. The position will be held for a fixed term of five years with the possibility of extension in accordance with legislation. The appointment was subject to approval by the Secretary State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley.

Commenting on the news, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O'Neill set out key the priorities she hopes Mr Byrne will adopt, including policing with the community.

"Sinn Féin looks forward to working with the new Chief Constable Simon Byrne," Mrs O'Neill said.

"Action is required to rebuild and redevelop public confidence in policing. Sinn Féin urges the incoming Chief Constable to commit to policing with the community as the core principle and basis for progressing modern policing.

"Sinn Féin has consistently called for the responsibility of dealing with legacy to be removed from the PSNI and handed over to the new proposed independent legacy mechanisms agreed at Stormont House. The delays in implementing the legacy structures agreed by the two governments and the political parties at Stormont House in 2014 must end. And the mechanisms should be given legislative effect, in a human rights compliant manner.

"There is also an onus on the incoming Chief Constable to ensure that significant failures of the PSNI to disclose information in a timely and acceptable manner to the courts and to families of victims of the conflict must end.

"There must be no more blocking or delays," Mrs O'Neill concluded.



(JG/CM)