Police Service of Northern Ireland - Chief Constables

Chief Constables

The senior officer in charge of the PSNI is its Chief Constable. To date this position has been held, substantively or temporarily, by five people:

• Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan OBE, from the formation of the PSNI. Flanagan was previously the Chief Constable of the RUC.
• Acting Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn, from 1 April 2002. Cramphorn was formerly Flanagan's deputy, and with Flanagan's resignation Cramphorn acted as Chief Constable while the Policing Board sought a permanent replacement. Cramphorn is believed to have turned down the post of Chief Constable due to the political expectations that he was required to fulfil, but which he apparently believed were inappropriate at that time.
• Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde OBE, from 29 May 2002 until August 2009. Cramphorn continued as Orde's deputy until September 2002, when he was appointed Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police.
• Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie, acting from August 2009 until 22 September 2009.
• Chief Constable Matt Baggott CBE, QPM, from 22 September 2009.

The Chief Constable of Northern Ireland is the third-highest-paid British police officer, after the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.