Sir Ronnie's appointment welcomed by Policing Board chief

The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board has welcomed the news that former PSNI Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, has been appointed as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

The appointment announced on Wednesday will see Sir Ronnie succeed Sir Keith Povey, who has been Chief Inspector of Constabulary since September 2001.

Welcoming the appointment Professor Sir Desmond Rea, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said Sir Ronnie’s wealth of experience, as well as the skills he developed in Northern Ireland, were at last being recognised.

"The debt we particularly owe Sir Ronnie is because he embraced change in the RUC, and laid the foundations for the PSNI that Hugh Orde has driven forward and is driving forward today - reducing crime, catching more criminals, and making the service more reflective of the whole community,” Sir Desmond said.

"The Policing Board holds the PSNI Chief Constable to account for the delivery of an effective and efficient police service – and HMIC supports us in our work by providing an expert comparison and overview of policing best practice. We work very closely with the HMIC Inspector Ken Williams, who has responsibility - now under Sir Ronnie - for PSNI and police services in Northern England."

Sir Ronnie joined the RUC in 1970, serving as both a constable and then sergeant, he was promoted to inspector in 1976 and was a Detective Inspector in Special Branch in 1982. Rising though the senior ranks to Chief Superintendent, he was appointed RUC Chief Constable in 1996 – the same year he received an OBE. A knighthood followed two years later. He retired from the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2002 and was appointed HM Inspector of Constabulary for London and East Wigan.

Sir Ronnie's appointment to the £189,000-a-year post of HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary is expected to last three years.

(MB/KMcA)