12/04/2002

More contenders for PSNI chief job than expected

It has been reported that a senior Metropolitan police officer investigating allegations of collusion between members of the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries is in the running for the top job in Northern Ireland’s new police service.

Hugh Orde, who has spent two-and-a-half years reinvestigating the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane, is a candidate for the chief constable’s job, sources close to the Policing Board confirmed on Friday.

However Mr Orde (43) and a deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, has so far refused to confirm or deny the news.

The Acting Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn announced earlier in the week that he would not be applying for the top post.

Mr Cramphorn said that it had become apparent to him that the Policing Board were looking for "a style and type of chief constable that he could never be".

Mr Cramphorn is currently Acting Chief Constable following the departure of Sir Ronnie Flanagan at the end of March.

Other candidates for the post include two senior Northern Ireland officers - Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan and Chris Albiston, who has just returned to the force from secondment in Kosovo.

Interviews for the job will take place in May. (AMcE)

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