Ulster Unionist Policing Board member Ross Hussey MLA has paid tribute to the Chief Constable Matt Baggott who announced today that he would be stepping down later this year.
Mr Hussey said:
“Firstly I would wish the Chief Constable and his wife every best wish for the future.
“I have always found Matt Baggott to be professional in all dealings I have had with him.
"He came to Northern Ireland with a remit to transform the PSNI into a community based service and although he made great strides in this direction, unfortunately the increased terrorist threat reduced the ability of the Chief and his officers to deliver to the extent they would have wanted.
“Northern Ireland represented a different policing experience to that which he was used to, with officers facing a threat both on and off-duty. During his tenure he saw officers killed in the execution of their duty and I know this had a great impact on him.
“His early indication of his intention to step down gives the Policing Board an opportunity to follow the recruitment process and recruit a suitable Deputy Chief Constable and Chief Constable to take command of the force and work with the entire community to tackle the challenges we all face.”