The search for a new Chief Constable for the Police Service of Northern Ireland was launched today.
The current chief, Sir Hugh Orde, who narrowly missed out on getting the top job of Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police earlier this year, is leaving Belfast in September to take up the position of President of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
A sign of the changed times in Northern Ireland is reflected in Sinn Féin’s involvement in the recruitment process.
Assembly member Alex Maskey, the first Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Belfast, is on the seven member recruitment panel.
The certainty is that the new chief will come from outside Northern Ireland, no one in the PSNI is eligible to apply for the post.
The criteria say applicants must have held, for at least two years, the post of Chief or Deputy Chief Constable in any force in the UK, or the equivalent rank in the Republic or indeed any European force.
The PSNI deputy chief constable is retiring at the end of this month and his replacement, Judith Gillespie was only appointed yesterday.
The salary for the successful candidate will be £183,953 (€210,345) a year plus allowances.
PA