The search for a new head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has ended with the appointment this evening of former deputy assistant commissioner with the Metropolitan Police, Hugh Orde.
He beat Chris Albiston, head of the north’s special branch and CID and assistant chief constable for Belfast Alan McQuillan.
The eight members of the policing board decided on the successful candidate after a day-long process of interviews and consultation. The competition for the Stg£130,000-a-year post was earlier understood to be too close to call.
Orde replaces the acting chief constable, Colin Cramphorn who in turn replaced the former head of the RUC Sir Ronnie Flanagan, and he will face a difficult task to gain the confidence of both communities in the recently-established PSNI as the volatile marching season approaches.
Mr Orde headed the investigation into allegations of security force collusion in the murder of Belfast lawyer Pat Finucane by loyalist paramilitaries and will now oversee the PSNI ongoing programme of reform.
