HC Deb 20 June 1996 vol 279 cc609-10W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the service criteria and qualifications which he and the Police Authority will be applying in selecting the next Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [32521]

Sir John Wheeler

In accordance with the provisions of section 7 of the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970, the appointment of the Chief Constable of the RUC is a matter for the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State.

I understand that, in relation to the appointment of the next Chief Constable of the RUC, the service criteria and qualifications decided upon by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland are set out in the public advertisement. They include:

  1. (a) to have served in the chief officer grades for at least three years;
  2. (b) to be suitable on medical grounds for the post;
  3. (c) to have served at chief officer level in a constabulary with a substantial complement of officers;
  4. (d) to have successfully completed the senior command course or the strategic leadership development programme or the chief police officers' course; and
  5. (e) to have relevant experience of operational policing, policy, planning and resource management at chief officer level and have displayed the capacity for leadership and vision essential to the demands of the post.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what different criteria apply to the appointment of the Chief Constable of the RUC from the appointment of chief constables elsewhere in the United Kingdom. [32522]

Sir John Wheeler

The criteria used for the appointment of chief constables in other parts of the United Kingdom are a matter for each individual police authority at the time of appointment. There is therefore no single comparator which could be used to identify differences in the criteria applied to the appointment of the Chief Constable of the RUC.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes in the service criteria and service qualifications in the appointment of the Chief Constable of the RUC have been made since(a) 1969 and (b) 1989. [32523]

Sir John Wheeler

The information relating to appointments in 1969 is not available as records relating to that period cannot be traced.

In 1989, candidates for appointment to the post of Chief Constable of the RUC were required to:

  1. (a) have achieved a high level of all-round professional competence;
  2. (b) have held a post at chief officer level in a force with a minimum of 1,000 officers;
  3. (c) (i) have experience of a wide range of police post at command level which should desirably include operations, administration, personnel and financial management; and
    1. (ii) policing communities with complex social problems;
  4. (d) have proven ability to manage resources both financial and personnel;
  5. (e) have demonstrated the ability to be a team builder and have an understanding of the type of problems experienced in Northern Ireland.

Comparison of these with the service criteria and service qualifications required today indicates no substantive changes.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors underlay the delay in publishing the criteria for the appointment of the Chief Constable of the RUC. [32524]

Sir John Wheeler

I an not aware of any delay in the Police Authority for Northern Ireland's publication of the criteria for the appointment of the Chief Constable of the RUC.

Mr. Deva

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to lay before the House the annual report for 1995 of the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [34077]

Sir Patrick Mayhew

Copies of the Chief Constable's annual report 1995 have today been placed in the Library. It is a general report on the carrying out by the RUC of its functions during 1995, which is submitted to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and transmitted to me for laying before Parliament in accordance with section 15 of the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970.