North police chief Jon Stoddart shortlisted for Ulster

Jul 4 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

A NORTH East police chief is on the shortlist to become head of the Northern Ireland service.

Jon Stoddart, chief constable of Durham Constabulary, is among five candidates shortlisted to succeed Sir Hugh Orde as Police Service Northern Ireland chief constable.

The post, to be vacated by Sir Hugh later this year, attracts an annual salary of £183,954.

Tyneside-born Mr Stoddart spent 16 years with Northumbria Police.

After graduating from Northumbria University he joined his local force in 1982 and was singled out for accelerated promotion.

He worked both in uniform and CID and was a Detective Sergeant in Newcastle, a Detective Chief Inspector in Sunderland and, as head of the force's Major Crime Team following his promotion to Detective Superintendent, was in charge of eight murder investigations on Tyneside and Wearside.

He also led the inquiry into the brick attack which left a Sunderland police officer critically injured. As a result six men were jailed for a total of 44 years.