Following the resignation of Simon Byrne as PSNI chief constable, the focus now moves to who could take on the top job.
A number of names have already been mooted as possible candidates.
Chris Noble
The current chief constable of Staffordshire Police in England, Mr Noble joined the RUC after graduating from Queen’s University Belfast with an honours degree in law and has been involved in policing for around 26 years.
During his time in the PSNI, he served as commander for Belfast City Policing District with responsibility for covert counter-terrorism policing, local response and neighbourhood policing, and public order and civil contingencies.
Mr Noble was appointed temporary assistant chief constable in March 2014, before relocating to Humberside Police three years later to take on the role of assistant chief constable.
He was appointed chief constable in December 2021.
Paula Hillman
Ms Hillman has more than 30 years experience working in the PSNI.
She served as Detective Chief Superintendent in charge of the organisation’s Public Protection Branch, responsible for proactive and reactive specialist and serious investigations in relation to adult and child vulnerability and abuse.
A highly experienced officer, she left in May 2020 and currently serves with An Garda Síochána as assistant commissioner with responsibility for policing and community engagement.
Ms Hillman became the first female President of the Superintendents’ Association for Northern Ireland in 2019, which represents the superintendent ranks within PSNI.
Jon Boutcher
With more than three decades of policing experience, mostly spent with the Metropolitan Police, Mr Boutcher was part of the Flying Squad in London, which probed robberies, developing intelligence, gathering evidence and leading armed operations.
Most recently, he has been responsible for Operation Kenova, which investigated the activities of Stakeknife, a British Army-run agent within the IRA, believed to be Freddie Scappaticci.
He also investigated several deaths at the request of the PSNI and carried out a report on collusion in relation to the notorious Glenanne Gang murders.
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Barbara Gray
Ms Gray, who joined the RUC in 1989, served as area commander for Ballymena before becoming superintendent for Armagh, Newry and Down in 2009 and later A District, which covers north and west Belfast.
Promoted to chief superintendent in 2014, Ms Gray was appointed temporary PSNI assistant chief constable in 2017 before being made permanent three years later.
She transferred to the Metropolitan Police in April 2021, initially as deputy assistant commissioner and currently serves as assistant commissioner (professionalism) within the Metropolitan Police.
Tim Mairs
Currently with Police Scotland, Mr Mairs joined the PSNI in 2002, working in local policing and within the force's crime operations department before he became temporary assistant chief constable.
He moved to Scotland three years ago and currently serves as assistant chief constable for the Local Policing East district.
Mr Mairs was also involved in Police Scotland’s efforts to tackle terrorism and organised crime.
