Simon Byrne has resigned as chief constable of the PSNI, with immediate effect, chair of the NI Policing Board Deirdre Toner has confirmed.
Mr Byrne said it is time for someone new to lead the PSNI.
Policing Board chair Deirdre Toner read a statement on Mr Byrne’s behalf after announcing his resignation as chief constable.
The statement said: “The last few days have been very difficult for all concerned.
“Regardless of the rights and wrongs, it is now time for someone new to lead this proud and resolute organisation.
“Can I thank those who have shown me trust, advice and friendship, and, of course, thanks to the brave men and women of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.”
Ms Toner said the last few weeks must have been “incredibly difficult” for Simon Byrne.
She said: “He was very aware of and greatly appreciated the often difficult job that officers and staff across the organisation do on behalf of the community.
“This may not always have been apparent to onlookers but it was very much his modus operandi, as was his desire to improve policing for the community through modernisation and investment in local policing arrangements.
“His tenure was subjected to intense scrutiny and I am sure that the last few weeks in particular have been incredibly difficult for him personally and professionally.
“The board will now consider the leadership arrangements going forward.”
A public meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board today had been cancelled after Mr Byrne faced a motion of no-confidence in his leadership.
The board instead held a special meeting today to allow members to discuss the latest controversy which has rocked the police force.
Read more: Independent review into PSNI data breaches will 'identify action to prevent further leaks'
PSNI morale 'has never been lower'
Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland Liam Kelly said morale had never been lower in the PSNI.
He said: “There is a serious and worrying disconnect between those in leadership roles and the men and women from all community backgrounds who are the rank and file.
“Whoever succeeds Mr Byrne has a mountain to climb to address the cultural deficiencies, rebuild confidence and restore credibility.
“There is also the damaging perception that regulations are applied unequally and disproportionately.
“Our officers bear the brunt of disciplinary actions whereas those in senior positions are seemingly rarely subject to the same investigative processes and sanctions.
“On a personal level, Mr Byrne has always been approachable and courteous. He has provided over 40 years of policing service to the communities across the United Kingdom.
“I do not doubt his commitment and attempts to build a modern, strong, community-focused service during his tenure in Northern Ireland.
“However, he was frustrated from the outset by the failure of Government to properly finance the PSNI and provide him with the tools and resources needed to do the job.
“I know this is not the way he envisaged his police career would end. I wish Mr Byrne and his family well for the future.”
PSNI data breach
PSNI officers and staff have “around-the-clock” support from the UK Government following a data breach which identified them by name and rank, Chris Heaton-Harris said.
The Northern Ireland Secretary told the Commons: “Many PSNI officers and staff have raised concerns about themselves and their family, and they have my support and understanding as they go about their important work keeping communities safe in these worrying and most-testing of circumstances. To them again, I say thank you.
“In response to these concerns, the PSNI and wider security partners are taking appropriate action and are working around the clock to investigate the incident, provide reassurance and mitigate any risk to the safety and security of officers and staff.
“As of August 30, 3,954 self-referrals have been made to the PSNI’s emergency threat management group. This is part of the welfare and support services which have been made available to PSNI officers.”
He added: “Six individuals have been arrested by detectives in investigating the breach and the criminality connected to it. Five have been released on bail to allow for further police inquiries and one has been charged with possessing documents or records likely to be useful to terrorists.”
Mr Heaton-Harris said the response to the breach would “obviously come with a cost”, stressed the need for a balanced budget in Northern Ireland and added: “Where additional funding is required, the correct process must be followed and this includes a whole host of different things.”
SDLP says resignation was 'right thing to do'
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said confidence in Simon Byrne as chief constable had been “irreparably shattered”.
He said: “Policing in Northern Ireland is in a very difficult place right now.
“Successive crises have left confidence in the chief constable shattered from all directions.
“His resignation today was the right thing to do and was necessary to begin to address the serious issues facing the PSNI.
“Over the last month our primary interest has been safeguarding and supporting officers put at risk by the data breach.
“Now it must move to saving the new beginning to policing that so many took risks to secure.
“That includes addressing significant concerns about the erosion of confidence in the Policing Board as the body charged with holding the PSNI to account.”
DUP welcomes the resignation
Read more:
DUP submits motion of no confidence in PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the resignation of Simon Byrne as PSNI chief constable is the “first step” towards rebuilding confidence in the force.
Speaking from Westminster, he said: “We welcome the decision by the chief constable to step down.
“It is the right thing to do following last week’s ruling by Mr Justice Schofield that the PSNI senior command unlawfully disciplined two of its own officers to appease Sinn Fein.
“Fair and even-handed policing is just as foundational to progress in Northern Ireland as fully functioning political institutions operating on a cross-community basis.
“Public confidence has been damaged, but so too was confidence amongst rank-and-file officers in the police leadership.
“The resignation of the chief constable is not an end in itself, but merely an opportunity to make a fresh start in rebuilding that lost confidence both inside and outside the PSNI.
“At a time when officers are holding the line amidst unprecedented budget cuts, it was the minimum necessary to send a message that the organisation is listening to widely-held concerns.
“The focus now must be on the future of policing in Northern Ireland and ensuring we have efficient, effective policing which everyone can have confidence is impartial in its actions.”
Pressure had been mounting on the chief constable
Pressure had been mounting on Mr Byrne since a damning court ruling last Tuesday found two junior PSNI officers were unlawfully disciplined for making an arrest at a commemoration for those killed in the Sean Graham's bookies massacre on Belfast's Ormeau Road. It came just weeks after a series of data leaks cast doubt over Mr Byrne's leadership.
Read more:PSNI officers 'infuriated' as chief constable considers appeal over court judgement
High Court judge Mr Justice Scoffield said the pair were disciplined in the aftermath of the February 2021 incident to allay a threat that Sinn Féin could withdraw its support for policing, an assertion yesterday rebuked by the party's policing spokesman.
The DUP had made repeated calls for PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne to resign.
Mr Byrne had originally 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.
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.”
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has increased pressure on the Chief Constable Simon Byrne.https://t.co/ke3O9pmnim pic.twitter.com/02eVHcVQzQ — UTV Live News (@UTVNews) August 31, 2023
Read more:
- Tom Kelly: Chief Constable Simon Byrne's leadership is putting the credibility of the PSNI at stake
- Mary Kelly: Distinct lack of political nous in Simon Byrne's PSNI
