Two shortlisted in process to appoint new PSNI chief constable
It is understood that the current interim chief Jon Boutcher and Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton have been shortlisted.
Two men have been shortlisted in the process to appoint Northern Ireland’s next chief constable.
It is understood that the current interim chief, and former police chief of Bedfordshire, Jon Boutcher and Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton are the final two candidates in the process.
Former Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief constable Simon Byrne resigned in August following a string of controversies.
Applications for the chief constable role closed on Monday. The Northern Ireland Policing Board is expected to interview the final two candidates in November.
He was until recently leading Operation Kenova, which has been investigating the activities of Stakeknife, the Army’s top agent in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Mr Singleton has previously held high-profile roles within the PSNI, including leading the Paramilitary Crime Task Force before going on to head up the Legacy Investigation Branch.
But they will face a number of challenges, including dealing with a budget crisis, as well as the consequences of the major data breach.
Senior officers have estimated that security and legal costs from the breach could potentially cost the force £240 million.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court issued a ruling on a long-running legal claim over holiday pay, which could see the force having to make back payments of tens of millions of pounds.
