Jon Boutcher confirmed as chief constable of the PSNI

Mr Boutcher was appointed on an interim basis last month following the resignation of Simon Byrne in September.

Following approval by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, NIPB chair Deirdre Toner said: “I am pleased to confirm that Jon Boutcher QPM is the successful candidate from this appointment competition.

“Jon takes on the leadership role for one of the most important public sector services in Northern Ireland. He is clearly committed to the challenges ahead, to tackling crime and criminality and to providing a policing service that is community based and focused on delivery to the public.

“There are also significant pieces of work to be progressed to manage and mitigate the serious financial pressures currently facing policing, and deal with confidence and other issues arising from recent events.

“As a board we look forward to working with him as chief constable in dealing with the challenges faced.”

She added that the leadership position carries “extensive responsibilities”, and the appointment followed a “rigorous selection process”.

Ms Toner said based on the “key principles of merit, fairness, openness and transparency”, independent scrutiny was incorporated at all stages of the process to provide added probity and assurance.

The recommendation of the appointment panel was unanimously ratified by the board at a special meeting.

The chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland is urging the newly-appointed PSNI chief constable to set as his top priority the need for direct and urgent government intervention to tackle ‘chronic and deep-rooted’ issues holding back the service.

Congratulating Mr Boutcher on his appointment, Liam Kelly said the chief constable would have the full support of the Federation for a campaign to get minsters to realise what is urgently required.

Mr Kelly said: “I have met Mr Boutcher in his capacity as the interim chief constable and look forward to continuing to have a productive and positive engagement.

“We must collaborate across a number of areas but most of all, our officers want to know their chief constable has their back.

“The list of what must be fixed is long and can only be addressed by a meaningful and realistic funding package from government. Taken together, the service will need a commitment to invest up to £500 million.

“There’s a worrying funding gap coupled with the cost of the data breach and officer holiday pay which account for most of what’s required. There’s no recruitment and serving officers are leaving because of the pressures they endure in doing their job.

“If the Government doesn’t step in to deal with chronic and deep-rooted challenges, we will see officer numbers shrink to 6,000 and that is unsafe and unsound.”

Mr Kelly added: “Mr Boutcher knows what has to be done to restore balance. Getting ministers to realise and then fix the parlous state of the PSNI is the main priority.

That will require intensive lobbying at Whitehall as NIO ministers don’t seem to care and have turned a deaf ear to policing requirements.

“Internally, it will be important to re-build confidence and morale. Disciplinary processes are in need of reform with far too many officers waiting an inordinate length of time for cases to be resolved.

“None of this will come as a surprise to Mr Boutcher as we’ve already made our views known to him.

“Our new chief constable has a difficult and demanding in-tray, but he will have our support as he sets out his plans to right a badly listing organisation.”

Mr Boutcher, the former chief constable of Bedfordshire Police who led the Operation Kenova investigation into offences during the Troubles era, has more than 35 years’ experience as a police officer.

His appointment will be for a fixed term of five years on a salary of £219,894 plus benefits, with the possibility of extension in accordance with legislation.