Chief Constable

“Fair employment and equal opportunities legislation are built upon open and transparent practices, free from political interference…”

Pete Baker on February 19, 2019, 4:26 pm | Readers 1788

The, at best, ill-considered comments by Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald yesterday, on potential candidates from within the PSNI to succeed George Hamilton as Chief Constable, have prompted a sharp reminder from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland to the NI Policing Board of its responsibilities under equality legislation to recruit in a non-discriminatory way. The Equality Commission has expressed its concern about the recent comments made by the Sinn Féin President about the appointment of a new Chief …

PUP party conference sees opportunities, but can they seize them?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on October 10, 2015, 9:13 pm | Readers 1366

PROGRESSIVE UNIONIST PARTY kicked off the new season of party conference. The Chief Constable George Hamilton visited along with Jude Whyte and Malachi O’Doherty. An eclectic bunch of motions were debated. And elected representatives talked about the opportunities for the party.

Building trust and policing for the present – Martin McGuinness and George Hamilton at #feile15

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on August 6, 2015, 11:58 pm | Readers 2029

Around 400 people filled the assembly hall of St Mary’s University College to hear deputy First Minster Martin McGuinness and PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton discuss the challenges of dealing with the past under the eye of chair Brian Rowan. Another 100 or more stood along the pavement outside St Mary’s protesting at the presence of the Chief Constable in West Belfast and calling for an end to “British internment in Ireland”. A tannoy blasted music over the railing towards …

The next Chief Constable… is George Hamilton

Pete Baker on May 29, 2014, 3:46 pm | Readers 302

Meanwhile, back at the ranch… Having “unanimously” agreed to appoint Matt Baggott as PSNI Chief Constable in 2009 for his strong advocacy of “community-style policing”, the Northern Ireland Policing Board, or its party political members, might be said to be experiencing buyer’s regret. Alternatively, those same political parties have undermined the outgoing Chief Constable throughout his tenure by putting their own party political concerns ahead of the ‘greater good’ – by word, and by deed. [“ahem* – Ed]. ANYhoo… with Matt Baggott announcing his …

Executive finally reading what the Minister of Justice actually says about recruiting the next CC?

Mick Fealty on February 14, 2014, 4:22 pm | Readers 54

Executive has taken no decision on criteria for Chief Constable appointment will examine consultation paper over next few days — Mark Devenport (@markdevenport) February 13, 2014 Again, I’m grateful for this snippet from Mark Devenport. After a lot of bellicosity from all parties on the policing board perhaps it is slowly sinking in with members (rarely heard from when the PSNI are under fire) that it is indeed the Minister of Justice’s responsibility to legislate the framework for the next …

NI Justice Minister: “I trust that the executive will recognise that it is the right decision, and that I was right to make it”

Pete Baker on January 31, 2014, 4:46 pm | Readers 96

In the aftermath of the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers/Executive/Assembly/Policing Board members semi-detached polit-bureau’s kerfuffle over the NI Justice Minister’s proposed changes to the criteria for the next Chief Constable, Liam Clarke reveals some significant correspondence on the matter. Firstly, the Chief Executive of the NI Policing Board, Sam Pollock, tries his hand at herding cats to put some manners on members of the Board. In his letter to Policing Board members, Mr Pollock wrote: “I am disappointed in the …

NI Justice Minister: “It is important to note that, in setting some minimum standards, I am not prohibiting the Board from adding to these minimum criteria…”

Pete Baker on January 28, 2014, 2:39 pm | Readers 84

Whilst Brian may regard them as “surely sensible” changes to the criteria for the next Chief Constable, and they may well be, as I mentioned in updates to a previous post, no sooner had the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, the Alliance Party’s David Ford, announced those changes than the NI First and deputy First Ministers promptly agreed to exercise their prerogative to call his decision into the dysfunctional NI Executive semi-detached polit-bureau [Where it will be put to the sword… – …

No, the PSNI Chief Constable hasn’t “the toughest policing job in the world”

Brian Walker on January 28, 2014, 12:34 pm | Readers 117

Here we are, still sold on the idea of how exceptional we are. Comment on Mick’s post on the appointment of a chief constable failed to notice that there’s a wider world out there. It’s no longer the case that the PSNI have “the toughest policing job in in the world” and other superlatives. Try the Met which has gone through three commissioners in five years. Race issues, jihadist extremism and flash rioting in today’s human rights culture make it very tough for …

Matt Baggott to step down as PSNI Chief Constable

Pete Baker on January 22, 2014, 12:41 pm | Readers 146

Having been appointed, unanimously, by the Northern Ireland Policing Board in August 2009, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott is to step down from the post. And, apparently, he is to retire from policing after a 37-year-long career. His contract was due to end in September 2014. Presumably he will remain in position here until then… From the BBC report He took up the job as head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in August 2009 and his contract ends in September 2014. …

Matt Baggott on flag protests, Boston tapes, G8 summit, drones & social media

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 23, 2013, 9:00 am | Readers 104

It’s all looking a bit fraught. We need a recovery plan. The words of the Chief Constable Matt Baggott describing the fortunes of his football club rather than the PSNI’s response to the flags crisis. Though the words must echo what went through the PSNI senior officers’ minds when the flags crisis didn’t abate before Christmas. Monday’s post covered PSNI transformation, regulation and vocation. Remember that blogs aren’t newspapers, so not every post has to try to make a news …

Interview with Matt Baggott: his view on PSNI transformation, confidence in policing, over-regulation, vocation & faith

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 22, 2013, 9:00 am | Readers 285

We usually hear public figures speaking in sound bites. At most ten minute interviews about some topic of the day. We rarely get to listen in as they explain what motivates them to do their job and reflect on their rationale or approach. The PSNI Chief Constable has been given advice on what he should do and how he should do it from before he arrived in Northern Ireland and it will no doubt continue until long after he has …

Increased security measures for Londonderry courthouse

Pete Baker on April 18, 2011, 9:38 pm | Readers 8

Following last month’s attempted car bomb at the courthouse in Londonderry, the BBC reports Increased security measures are to be installed at the courthouse in Londonderry after an attempted bomb attack on the building last month. More than 120 bollards will be placed on the footpath outside the court, stretching from the city walls to St. Columb’s Court. Similar measures have already been put in place at the Strand Road police station in the city. Road closures have been ordered …

Alex Maskey: “I find it truly disrespectful that he decided to make the announcement at a public session…”

Pete Baker on December 6, 2010, 3:04 pm | Readers 27

I didn’t see any immediate reaction from Sinn Féin to the Chief Constable’s announcement on Thursday that 150 officers would be redeployed to guard police stations in light of the increased threat from republican paramilitary groups. But Matt Baggott’s reported comments at Saturday’s UUP conference – that the reductions in police numbers from 13,000 to 7,000 was done too quickly – appear to have struck a nerve. The BBC reports that Sinn Féin MLA, and Northern Ireland Policing Board member, Alex Maskey, “has disagreed with the chief constable’s assessment …

“Shoot to Kill” Files Ordered Released

Elizabeth Nelson on May 28, 2010, 12:42 am | Readers 7

The High Court today has ordered that files relating to the government’s alleged ‘shoot to kill’ policy should be released. Mr. Justice John Gillen said: “If inquests are to maintain public confidence, put minds at rest and answer the questions of the families who are bereaved, it is vital to ensure that the interested parties/next of kin can participate in an informed, open and transparent fashion on an equal footing with all other parties throughout the various stages of the …