The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has appointed Jon Boutcher as its new chief constable, following the resignation of Simon Byrne in September. Boutcher, who is already the PSNI interim chief constable and formerly headed up Bedfordshire Police, was appointed by the Policing Board and sanctioned by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. One of two shortlisted candidates, Boutcher’s appointment carries a salary of £220,000 and is seen as one of the most demanding jobs in UK policing.
Commenting on his new role, Boutcher said that he was “very honoured” and looked forward to “leading the dedicated officers and staff of this exceptional organisation”, adding that it was a “huge privilege”. His appointment was confirmed by Policing Board chair Deirdre Toner who said that Boutcher was “clearly committed to the challenges ahead”.
However, newly appointed chair of police representative body the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly, warned that there were “chronic and deep-rooted issues holding back the [police] service”. He advised Boutcher to prioritise calling on the government to provide “direct and urgent” help to address these issues. Boutcher has already overseen the independent investigation into the activities of the top spy of the Army within the IRA, known as Stakeknife, in the wake of the Troubles.
The PSNI has more than 9,000 staff and a budget of around £800m. However, it is £50m short of what is required to balance the books for 2023-24, and there are concerns about less neighbourhood patrolling and fewer detectives due to the ongoing financial situation. Boutcher’s tenure as the new chief constable is set to run for five years, with the option for extension thereafter
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More