International search on for new NI police ombudsman

AN international search to find the next Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland begins today.

The successful candidate will replace the current Ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, when his term of office ends in July 2019.

The new Police Ombudsman will be the fourth to hold the post, which has a seven-year term.

The Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland was established in 1999 to provide an independent police complaints system here.

With its own teams of professional investigators, it was the first fully-funded and completely independent service of its kind in the world.

The first Ombudsman was lawyer and academic Nuala O’Loan (now Baroness O’Loan) who served from 1999 to 2007. She was followed by Al Hutchinson (2007-2012) and the current Police Ombudsman, Michael Maguire, who was appointed in 2012.

Mr Maguire was formerly Chief Inspector of the Criminal Justice Inspectorate Northern Ireland.

This week, a series of advertisements will appear in local, national and international newspapers and on websites in order to attract as wide a range of candidates as possible for the important post.

Responsibility for approving the recruitment process and recommending an appointment of a new Police Ombudsman lies with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The closing date for applications is noon on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.