Mark Hamilton: Officers 'incensed' by secondment plan

Mark Hamilton was appointed PSNI deputy chief constable in February 2020

Officers are "incensed" by a decision which could see Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton take a ten-month secondment to the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Police Federation has said.

The union added if approved by the DoJ "a full explanation is required".

It passed a no confidence vote in Mr Hamilton last year and he has been absent from work since a medical procedure.

The Policing Board has agreed to support his move.

It is understood the secondment would see him split his time between DoJ and the National Police Chiefs' Council.

The two organisations will part-fund his salary, which is around £200,000 a year.

In a statement, a board spokesperson said: "At the request of the chief constable, the Policing Board has considered and approved a secondment for the deputy chief constable.

"The secondment approval is now with the Department of Justice for consideration."

If finalised, the move would mean Mr Hamilton will not have been back to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) since the fall-out from a court case last August.

The Police Federation passed a vote of no confidence in him and Simon Byrne, after a judge ruled two junior officers had been the subject of unlawful disciplinary action.

The case prompted Mr Byrne to resign as chief constable.

Chris Todd is currently acting-up as deputy chief constable on a temporary basis.

Liam Kelly said internal damage to trust and confidence will be caused by the secondment

The federation represents the PSNI's rank and file.

In a statement, its chairman Liam Kelly said: "The officers I represent are incensed over this decision.

"The federation unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Hamilton and the former chief constable over their handling of disciplinary issues around the Ormeau Road incident in 2021.

"A judge found against them and determined their actions to have been unlawful.

"However, there has been no follow up investigation instigated whatsoever."

Mr Kelly said he had explained to the Chief Constable Jon Boutcher "the internal damage to rebuilding trust and confidence between the ranks that news of this secondment will cause."

The DoJ has been approached for comment.