Following Justice Minister Naomi Long's approval of the nomination, Policing Board head Mukesh Sharma made the news. "Super appointment" is how Chief Constable Jon Boutcher described it.

When he was appointed last year, Mr. Boutcher defeated Mr. Singleton in his earlier application for the force's chief constable post. In November 2001, Mr. Singleton became one of the first student officers to join the PSNI.

He has accumulated a variety of policing expertise over the past 23 years, including uniform community policing, public order and safety command, and detective work looking into serious and organised crime, including sexual violence and terrorism.

His most recent position was as an assistant chief constable with the PSNI. After thirty years in law enforcement, Mr. Hamilton announced his retirement early this year.

A significant data leak and a Belfast High Court decision that determined that suspending two junior officers for an arrest at a Troubles memorial ceremony had been illegal were among the scandals the PSNI faced while he served as deputy chief constable.

Due to their handling of the latter matter, Mr. Hamilton and two other senior staff members were voted out of office by the Police Federation, which speaks for rank and file police.

"Mark has dedicated thirty years of his life to ensuring the safety of the people of Northern Ireland," Mr. Boutcher remarked in remembrance of Mr. Hamilton. "I wish him well for his retirement."

Additionally, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd, who served as the temporary Deputy Chief Constable for the previous 12 months, was praised by Mr Boutcher.