DossierPoliticsUnited KingdomUpdated October 14, 2026

Jon Boutcher

Jon Boutcher

Jon Boutcher is the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, appointed to the role on 12 October 2023. He is a British senior police officer with a background in covert intelligence and counter-terrorism, and previously served as Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police. He led Operation Kenova, the independent investigation into the activities of 'Stakeknife', from its establishment in June 2016, and published its final report in December 2024. He has also served as the UK national policing lead for technical surveillance, covert policing and undercover policing. He studied applied criminology and police management at Wolfson College, Cambridge.

Country
United Kingdom
Field
Politics
Leaning
Not assessed
Fact checks
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Affiliations

  • Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)

    The PSNI is the police service for Northern Ireland. Boutcher has served as its Chief Constable since his appointment on 12 October 2023, and has publicly addressed the Policing Board on matters including the Drumcree parading dispute and police failings in the Katie Simpson investigation. [1]

  • Operation Kenova

    Operation Kenova is an independent investigation into the activities of 'Stakeknife', established in June 2016. Boutcher led the Kenova team and published its final report in December 2024. [2]

  • Bedfordshire Police

    Bedfordshire Police is a territorial police force in England. Boutcher served as its Chief Constable before leaving to lead Operation Kenova. [3]

Sources

  1. [1]psni.police.uk
  2. [2]psni.police.uk
  3. [3]kenova.co.uk
  4. [4]Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons, OGL 3

Profiles are compiled from public reporting and updated as new information appears.

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