19/02/2002

Sir Ronnie Flanagan appointed Inspector of Constabulary

Sir Ronnie Flanagan will vacate the Chief Constable's hot seat in favour of taking up a new post with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

As Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Ronnie will now inspect a number of UK police forces including its largest – the Metropolitan Police. The appointment was made on the recommendation of the Home Secretary.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, John Reid, welcomed the appointment. He said: "I am delighted to hear of this appointment for Sir Ronnie. He will bring to the job a wealth of experience gained in some of the most demanding and difficult policing circumstances in the world. Policing has been his life. This appointment is a tribute to Sir Ronnie's leadership, to the police service he leads, and to the people of Northern Ireland whom he has served so well."

Alec Attwood, SDLP assembly member and Policing Board member, said "while there are enduring concerns about his approach to policing matters", Sir Ronnie's legacy would be the "safe delivery of policing change and useful intervention in the Patten debate".

The Chief Constable handed in his resignation three months ago and was expected to leave the post on February 28. The process to find his successor begins on Thursday when the Policing Board next meets to discuss possible candidates.

Should Sir Ronnie depart before a successor is installed, Deputy Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn will head the service during the interregnum period.

Sir Ronnie played centre stage in a bitter row with the Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan following her report into the Omagh bomb investigation. In an impassioned response to damaging conclusions reached by the ombudsman, Sir Ronnie famously said that he would "not only resign, but publicly commit suicide".

Some relatives of the victims of the Omagh bomb had welcomed the prospect of his departure, and the Omagh Victims' Group said only his leaving will mark the new beginning of policing.

Sir Ronnie's leaving will not end the friction between the police and the ombudsman as the Police Association has filed legal proceedings against Mrs O'Loan for her "unlawful, unfair and inaccurate" report. An application seeking leave to apply for a judicial review is expected next week.

(GMcG)

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