New Board Member Appointed to the Northern Ireland Police Fund

Justice Minister Naomi Long has announced the appointment of Chief Superintendent Melanie Jones as a Board member of the Northern Ireland Police Fund (NIPF).

Chief Superintendent Jones is appointed as the statutory nominee of the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.  She will take up her position on 1 July 2021.

Naomi Long said: “I would like to congratulate Chief Superintendent Jones on her appointment and wish her every success for her term of office.”

NIPF is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Department of Justice.  The NIPF provides financial assistance, advice, support and care to members and former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC, the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC Reserve, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve and their families and dependents, who have been killed or injured by terrorism.

Notes to editors: 

1. NIPF comprises a Chairperson and six Board members.  One of the Board members is nominated by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and one is nominated by the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, subject to the approval of the Department.

2. The procedure for the appointment of Board members is compliant with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland Code of Practice. The appointments are made by the Department of Justice taking account of its statutory duty under The Northern Ireland Police Fund Regulations 2016.

3. Membership of the NIPF Board is as follows:

• Dr Michael Wardlow – Chairperson
• Ms Alice O’Kane
• Mr Colin Caughey
• Ms Brenda Plumber
• Mr Jonathan Craig
• Chief Constable’s Statutory Nominee
• Gareth Jenkins (Police Federation for Northern Ireland’s Statutory Nominee)

4. The post does not attract remuneration. 

The appointment of the Board member is made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published.  Details of the declaration in relation to political activity are included below.

5. Pen Picture

Chief Superintendent Melanie Jones is responsible for Criminal Justice Branch within Community Safety Department after being promoted from local Policing in Belfast City Policing District in October 2020. She began her policing career with the West Yorkshire Police in 1993 and has served in a wide range of posts from proactive crime operations working alongside other police services and regional crime units. She joined the PSNI on 1st April 2016 on promotion to Superintendent in a new role to realise an ambition of greater effective partnership working and Belfast City Policing Department becoming fully embedded into the Belfast Agenda and community plan. She is a Qualified Silver Public Order Commander.

Political Activity:  None

6. For media enquiries please contact DoJ Press Office by email: press.office@justice-ni.gov.uk.

7. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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