There has been further support for the new Northern Ireland police chief Hugh Orde. England’s Inspector of Constabulary Dan Crompton accused unionists on the interviewing panel who tried to block the Metropolitan Police officer's appointment of breaching confidentiality.
Mr Crompton said: "I confirmed to the Secretary of State that I was confident Hugh Orde would prove to be a chief constable of distinction and he will enter this post with my total support."
Suggesting codes of confidentiality had been breached, Mr Crompton said "It's a strict HMIC policy not to comment on individual candidates or put into a public arena confidential discussions which take place within a selection panel." He continued: "It's unfortunate that this widespread, accepted practice has been breached and it offends the principles of human rights.''
His statement contradicted claims by two members of the Northern Ireland policing board who had fought against giving Mr Orde the top job. Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain insisted Mr Crompton advised all three short-listed candidates had failed to meet the threshold.
The North Belfast MLA also warned that unionists may rethink sitting on future selection panels for top policing posts.
"This decision was steamrollered through to the delight of nationalists but without thinking about what was best for the police service,'' he claimed.
Mr Orde fought off competition from two senior Police Service of Northern Ireland candidates, Alan McQuillan and Chris Albiston.
Although he has spent 25 years with the Metropolitan Police, his work with the Stevens inquiry which is investigating alleged security force collusion in the murder of Belfast lawyer Pat Finucane has seen him place policing in the North under close scrutiny.
Highly critical findings emerging from that investigation, particularly surrounding Special Branch's "force within a force'' status, are expected to be published next month.
Once he has served his notice in London Mr Orde will then have to act on those recommendations to help reform policing in Northern Ireland.
As the row over his appointment erupted, Mr Orde accepted: "This is not a post for the faint hearted." Furious unionists on the eight-strong interviewing panel insisted he should never have been chosen. In a move suggesting tense times ahead, both Mr Cobain and the Democratic Unionist Assemblyman Sammy Wilson snubbed Mr Orde's official unveiling.
Sammy Wilson tonight remained adamant that none of the candidates had been deemed suitable, with Mr Orde "hovering below" the mark required.
"I don't intend to conduct open warfare against him and I wish him all the best because his future and the future of the police service are inextricably linked,'' the East Belfast MLA said.
PA