The Northern Ireland Policing Board is required to be reconstituted on the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly, in accordance with the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. In preparation for this I am announcing today my intention to launch a recruitment competition for independent members of the Policing Board and also the introduction of legislation to provide for the running of the competition.

I would like to take this opportunity also to pay tribute to Board members past and present for the significant contributions they have made to policing in Northern Ireland.