‘Frightening in-tray’ awaits Jon Boutcher as PSNI’s interim chief constable

It comes after approval was granted by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris who fast-tracked the legislation needed to make a temporary appointment.

Mr Boutcher is currently head of the Operation Kenova investigation into offences during the Troubles era.

He has more than 35 years’ experience as a police officer and is the former chief constable of Bedfordshire Police.

His appointment follows the resignation of former chief constable Simon Byrne last month.

NIPB chair Deirdre Toner said: “The appointment of Jon Boutcher as interim chief constable will bring stability to the leadership of the PSNI and the service executive team until the substantive appointment chief constable process has been completed.

“The Board looks forward to working with Mr Boutcher and the wider service executive team as we progress the issues and pressures currently facing policing.”

Mr Boutcher, who has led Kenova since its inception in 2016, was confirmed into his three-month role with the PSNI on Thursday (October 12).

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) says a “frightening in-tray” awaits the newly appointed interim chief constable.

PFNI chair Liam Kelly said: “I welcome this appointment and called for this to happen over six weeks ago. I hope it will start to bring some badly needed stability to a service that is on the ropes.

“We desperately need responsive, visible leadership and an ability to work through the list of very significant issues that need to be addressed at speed.

“I wish Jon Boutcher well as he takes over this interim appointment. The in-tray that awaits him is frightening. He will have to tackle the fallout from the data breaches as well as the loss of trust and confidence from the Judicial Review, which found that his predecessor and the current deputy chief constable acted unlawfully in the case of the two officers involved in the Ormeau Rd incident.”

Mr Kelly added: “An important first step towards re-building officer morale and restoring internal confidence would be an early announcement by Mr Boutcher that he will not be appealing the Judicial Review decision.

“As far as this Federation is concerned, he will be pushing an open door. We are fully committed to working collaboratively, positively, and constructively with him to fix what’s broken.

“He needs to advocate better to government for the allocation of an effective budget so our depleted police service can start to regrow. Recruitment, remuneration and retention are vital components in bringing PSNI out of the resourcing crisis that it is in.

“The downward trajectory cannot continue as it will have serious adverse consequences for the police service that can be provided.

“There is also a damaging longstanding perception amongst the men and women I represent that there’s a culture of unequal and disproportionate disciplinary processes and sanctions being applied to them. This has primarily caused a serious and worrying disconnect between the ranks and fuelled an unhealthy ‘them and us’ belief.

“He needs to formulate an initial clear plan and demonstrate that all officers and staff are appreciated and valued, will be treated equitably, and will be properly supported when carrying out their functions and duties.

“I will hopefully be meeting Mr Boutcher shortly and look forward to a positive and productive relationship with him as he takes up his post.”

While he will remain head of Kenova, Mr Boutcher  has asked former Police Scotland chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone to take on the role of Officer in Overall Command (OIOC).

Mr Boutcher said: “I have made a commitment to Kenova families and remain steadfast in my determination to deliver those promises.

“In advance of agreeing to take on this role I recognised the responsibility and the focus needed, so have agreed with Sir Iain for him to step in as OIOC of Kenova on an interim basis.

“Sir Iain has been closely involved in Kenova since it began as a member of both the independent steering group and then as chair of the Kenova Governance Board; I am grateful he has agreed to take on this role. I trust him, and the wider team, implicitly to continue this vitally important work and ensure no victim or family is let down.

“He and the Kenova team will ensure the remaining work continues uninterrupted whilst I am in this interim role and that work will have my unwavering support.”

The Kenova interim report has successfully passed through the final stages of the legal protocol regarding criminal prejudice with the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland and has now been submitted to the PSNI for publication.

Mr Boutcher added: “Whilst leading Kenova, I have worked with victims and families, multiple stakeholders and a range of partners across Northern Ireland, and of course the PSNI itself, so have a good understanding of the challenges the organisation faces and am acutely aware how distracting and frustrating recent events will have been for everyone.

“They now need a period of stability and to be allowed to get on with doing the job, and they have my full support in doing just that.”