A REQUIREMENT that the PSNI chief constable must have served in a high-ranking role in another force has been downgraded to a "desirable" criteria for candidates.
George Hamilton announced earlier this week that he will retire in June after five years in the top job.
He rejected a three-year extension to his contract last week.
Previously an essential prerequisite for the role following the Patten reforms which created the PSNI, in 2014 the requirement to have served outside Northern Ireland was amended by the Department of Justice.
The Policing Board confirmed yesterday that the requirement has changed.
A Department of Justice `Policing Policy and Strategy Division Circular', which sets out the minimum level of experience required of a person to be appointed as Chief Constable of the PSNI, states the following:
"Subject to section 35(1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 and regulations 9 and 10 no person shall be appointed as Chief Constable of the Police Service unless (s)he has successfully completed the Strategic Command Course (or its equivalent).
"In considering applications for appointment it is considered desirable that the successful candidate will have held, for a period of not less than two years, the rank of assistant chief constable (or commander in the Metropolitan Police Force or the City of London Police Force) or above:(a) in some other police force; (b) in the British Transport Police; (c) whilst engaged on relevant service within the meaning of section 97(1) of the Police Act 1996; or partly in one of the capacities above and partly in another."
A spokeswoman added: "It will be for the Policing Board to decide the criteria that will apply to applicants for the next Chief Constable position."
The potentially means senior PSNI officers could be serious contenders to replace Mr Hamilton despite not possessing the "desirable criteria", including acting Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin.
The Policing Board's Dolores Kelly of the SDLP said members had previously considered downgrading the requirement but resisted.
"Having that criterion allowed you to attract a much broader field. We were also moving from a security based to a more civilian policing approach and those from elsewhere would have had experience of that," she said.
"I think the Policing Board would like to see as broad a field of candidates as possible. It is a prestigious job and very important role. I still hope that there is interest right across these islands."
