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Deputy Chief Constable cannot be permanently appointed until legislation is passed at Westminster

Stephen Martin will act as the new Deputy Chief Constable until Westminster changes legislation to allow the reappointment of the policing board.
Stephen Martin will act as the new Deputy Chief Constable until Westminster changes legislation to allow the reappointment of the policing board. Stephen Martin will act as the new Deputy Chief Constable until Westminster changes legislation to allow the reappointment of the policing board.

TEMPORARY deputy chief constable Stephen Martin will not be able to apply to take up the post on a permanent basis until emergency legislation is passed at Westminster, allowing the Policing Board to be reconstituted in the absence of devolution.

It was announced yesterday that Mr Martin had been chosen as a temporary replacement for departing PSNI deputy chief constable Drew Harris, who was recently appointed the new Garda Commissioner.

He will take up the temporary role on August 11.

However, the Policing Board,who have legislative responsibility for appointing senior officers to the PSNI, has not been formally constituted since Stormont collapsed last year.

Secretary of State Karen Bradley announced last week that the government will bring forward legislation in the autumn to formally re-establish the board.

A PSNI spokesman said Mr Martin had been temporarily appointed following consultation with the chair of the Policing Board Anne Connolly.

Mr Martin will hold the post until legislation is passed and the board is constituted,. He is expected to formally apply for the second in command post at that stage.

Chief Constable George Hamilton said: "Stephen Martin's policing experience and commitment to keeping people safe in all our communities gives me confidence in making this appointment until such times as the Policing Board is reconstituted and can select and appoint a deputy chief constable on a substantive basis".