PSNI: NI Secretary seeks clarity on interim chief constable

Jon Boutcher, a former chief constable of Bedfordshire Police, is understood to be the choice for PSNI interim chief constable

The Northern Ireland Office has sought clarification from the Policing Board on due diligence in the appointment of an interim chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

The board confirmed on Wednesday it had agreed on a temporary replacement for Simon Byrne, who resigned last month.

However, the board acknowledged the decision required ministerial approval.

BBC News NI understands the person recommended was Jon Boutcher.

He is the former chief constable of Bedfordshire Police.

Chris Heaton-Harris has received a request from the Northern Ireland Policing Board

With still no confirmation of the interim appointment on Friday, BBC News NI asked the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) for an update.

An NIO spokesperson said: "The Secretary of State has received a request from the Northern Ireland Policing Board and replied asking for clarity on a matter relating to due diligence."

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The specific issue or issues around due diligence are not clear.

It is known that the Policing Board is keen to make an appointment as soon as possible.

At the same time, in a statement on Wednesday, it acknowledged that the appointment "is now subject to due diligence checks and ministerial approval".

As well as a temporary replacement for Mr Byrne, the Policing Board is also running a recruitment process for the permanent post.

The deadline for applications is 16 October and the post is being advertised with a salary of £219,894 per year.

Who is Jon Boutcher?

As former chief constable of Bedfordshire Police, Mr Boutcher has decades of experience within policing.

He has spent the past five years overseeing an independent investigation into the activities of the Army's top spy within the IRA during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

His Operation Kenova report into the agent, who was known as Stakeknife, is due to be published in the coming months.

Jon Boutcher has decades of experience in policing

Mr Boutcher had previously applied to lead the Metropolitan Police after the resignation of Cressida Dick last year but he was unsuccessful in that process.

He was also unsuccessful in his bid to become PSNI chief constable in 2019, when the job eventually went to Mr Byrne.

Liam Kelly, the chair of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, welcomed Mr Boutcher's selection as interim chief but said he "will have a mountain to climb because it will be challenging".