The PSNI has appointed a temporary deputy chief constable to fill the vacancy left by the continued absence of DCC Mark Hamilton.

Assistant chief constable Chris Todd has moved up a rank on an interim basis, with the appointment to be reviewed next month following the conclusion of the chief constable recruitment process.

DCC Hamilton, who originally assumed chief constable responsibilities following Simon Byrne's resignation in September, remains absent from work having undergone an unplanned medical procedure.

After two separate spells with West Midlands Police, T/DCC Todd joined the PSNI as an ACC in March 2022.

Alongside being a strategic firearms commander and public order gold commander, ACC Todd also holds the NPCC portfolio for data analytics.

He will work under the leadership of Jon Boutcher, who is currently the force's interim chief constable. 

Reports he has been shortlisted for the permanent position alongside assistant chief constable Bobby Singleton haven't been confirmed by either the NI Policing Board or PSNI.