Simon Byrne announced he’d quit the role this afternoon (4 September). He's served as Chief Constable of the PSNI since July 2019.

“It is unfortunate this situation has come to a head like this but it is clear the Chief Constable recognised his role was no longer tenable in the current circumstances,” said North Belfast MLA Ms McAllister.

“However, Alliance’s concerns, both about this issue and wider management, do not begin and end with one individual. There are fundamental challenges which have not gone away with this resignation. Confidence in the PSNI and in particular its senior leadership team is low in many quarters and unless these systemic challenges are met, a problematic future lies ahead for policing here.

“On a personal level, Simon Byrne began many improvement processes across the PSNI, including outreach to ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ groups, which we need to see continued by whoever his successor is. I thank him for his service as Chief Constable and wish him well in his future endeavours.”