Jon Boutcher has been chosen as the interim Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, as reported by BBC News NI.
The temporary appointment follows the resignation of Simon Bryne in September.
Mr Boutcher has previous experience leading Bedfordshire Police, and overseeing Operation Kenova – an investigation into the activities of the Army’s top spy within the IRA during the troubles in Northern Ireland.
He applied to become Chief Constable of the PSNI in 2019, when Simon Bryne was chosen over him.
A Policing Board spokesperson said: “The board has agreed the appointment of an interim chief constable for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.”
In all of our dealings with Jon Boutcher through Operation Kenova, we’ve found him to be honest, up-front and to have worked with victims and survivors with a singular focus to meet their needs.
— Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) October 4, 2023
Welcome this appointment which will help stabilise the PSNI at a time of crisis. https://t.co/03vU6nQnty
The full statement by the SDLP leader:
“The challenges facing the PSNI are severe. A crisis in confidence among officers, civilian staff and the public alongside the very serious implications of the unprecedented data breach have left many feeling that the new beginning to policing has fallen far off course.
“I welcome reports today that Jon Boutcher has been identified as a suitable interim Chief Constable while the process for appointing a new Chief Constable continues.
“In all of our dealings with him through Operation Kenova, we have found Jon Boutcher to be a man of integrity who has put the needs of victims and survivors above the narrow interests of paramilitaries and state agencies. It is important that the Kenova reports are completed, published in full and that there is no undue delay.
“The scale of the challenges require new leadership of the PSNI. But the SDLP also believes it requires a return to 50:50 police recruitment to drive culture and organisational change that has at best stalled, and at worse retreated, over recent years.
“Subject to final appointment, we will be seeking an early meeting with the interim Chief Constable to discuss the significant challenges facing policing here.”
Colum Eastwood, SDLP Leader
No other parties have released any statements as of yet.
This article will be updated continually. Please refresh for the latest version.
