Mark Hamilton new PSNI Deputy Chief Constable

Mark Hamilton has been appointed as the PSNI's new deputy chief constable.

The recommendation of the appointment panel was unanimously ratified by the Policing Board and approved by the Justice Minister Naomi Long.

Ms Long said the appointment comes at a "significant time for the PSNI,'' adding that she looks forward to working with the new DCC and senior policing team.

Policing Board chair Anne Connolly said the appointment was made following a "rigorous, fair and lawful selection process."

He has most recently been assistant chief constable with responsibility for District Policing Command in the PSNI, and has served in policing for 25 years.

"We are looking forward to working with Mark and wish him well in this key position of support to the Chief Constable,'' Ms Connolly said.

Chief Constable Simon Byrne tweeted his congratulations, adding: "I look forward to working with him as we pursue our modernisation agenda.''

Police Federation chairman Mark Lindsay added his congratulations.

"Mark Hamilton will hit the ground running. He is familiar with all the issues currently confronting the organisation and I know he will work tirelessly and professionally to address them,'' he said.

"The PFNI looks forward to working closely with him for the benefit of all officers and, of course, this entire community.''

DUP MLA Mervyn Storey welcomed the permanent appointment.

"The Independent Reporting Commission's (IRC) Second Report before Christmas confirmed that paramilitary activity and the coercive control associated with it remains a stark reality in many areas of Northern Ireland,'' he said.

"This is just one threat, in addition to new and rising threats to the public, such as digital, sexual and domestic crime, that the Deputy Chief Constable will no doubt we keen to address in the coming days.

"As a party we welcome this permanent appointment, which gives a stable footing to the PSNI leadership at a time when the Chief Constable is seeking to progress proactive and positive transformative changes to how policing is delivered across our province.''

Outgoing acting deputy chief constable Stephen Martin revealed earlier in the week that he has "taken legal advice'' over not being shortlisted for the permanent position.

He previously announced he would retire in February.

Ulster Unionist MLA Alan Chambers announced he had withdrawn from the DCC interview panel over concerns about the process.

He wrote to the Policing Board, saying the process needed to be "rigorously fair.''

Justice Minister Ms Long said she sought assurances over the process and was left satisfied by the response she received from the Policing Board.

"In light of concerns raised by a former panel member, I sought assurances from the board on the robustness and integrity of the appointment process,'' she said.

"I concluded that the issues raised did not undermine the overall integrity of the process.''