PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne resigns ‘with immediate effect’

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has announced his resignation following an emergency Northern Ireland Policing Board meeting.

Mr Byrne has resigned with immediate effect, the board’s chair Deirdre Toner confirmed on Monday.

A public meeting of the board was cancelled earlier as Mr Byrne faced a motion of no-confidence in his leadership.

The board instead arranged a special meeting to allow members to discuss the latest controversy which has rocked the police force.

A row erupted last week when High Court judge Mr Justice Scoffield ruled that two junior officers were unlawfully disciplined for an arrest made at a Troubles commemoration event in 2021.

The judge said they had been disciplined to allay a threat that Sinn Féin could withdraw its support for policing. Sinn Féin has insisted there was no such threat.

Mr Byrne had earlier insisted that he would not resign following an emergency meeting of the Policing Board on Thursday and indicated that he was considering an appeal against the court ruling.

That statement was met by anger from the Police Federation, with its chair Liam Kelly expressing “disbelief and anger” at the Chief Constable’s statement.

Mr Byrne has since been facing growing pressure, with both rank and file officers and civilian staff considering confidence votes in his leadership.

On Friday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson confirmed that his party had submitted a motion of no-confidence in Mr Byrne to the board, which is the oversight body for the PSNI.

Sir Jeffrey said: “Confidence in the Chief Constable has been eroded, both amongst the wider public but, significantly, also amongst serving PSNI officers and staff.

“In light of that, we believe that a change of leadership is required.”

Mr Byrne had been expected to appear before an evidence session of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Tuesday. The committee is investigating a major PSNI data breach last month.

Personal data on all serving members of the PSNI was mistakenly published in response to a freedom of information request.

Details of around 10,000 PSNI officers and staff included the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit they work in.

The PSNI has confirmed the list is in the hands of dissident republicans, who continue to tar

A number of other data breaches have since come to light, including the loss of a police officer’s laptop and notebook which contained details of 42 officers and members of staff after the items fell from a moving vehicle. – PA

More to follow…