Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)

The Chief Constable is in charge of the PSNI and decides what it does. The Chief Constable is responsible for operations and investigations carried out by the PSNI. The Chief Constable has to be allowed to decide what the police should do – he has independence. Politicians cannot interfere in his decisions or give him orders. The Chief Constable has to explain what he does to the NI Policing Board and the Policing Board can ask him questions about things the police have done.

The Chief Constable can hire police officers. He also has to look after all the people, buildings, cars and other equipment the police have. The Chief Constable works with the NI Policing Board to do a policing plan for Northern Ireland.