Former Newry & Mourne Area Commander is appointed new Assistant Chief Constable

The recommendation of the Appointment Panel was unanimously ratified by the Policing Board and was approved by the Justice Minister.

They include T/ACC Davy Beck has over 30 years' policing experience in Northern Ireland and has performed key leadership roles in a range of senior positions at both District and Area level before moving to Headquarters where he had responsibility for the delivery of Local Policing across Northern Ireland.

During this time Davy has taken personal responsibility for the strategic direction and delivery for a range of Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) strategies including the delivery of Neighbourhood Policing across Northern Ireland and the ‘Safer Places’ theme within the PSNI Violence Against Women and Girls strategy.

He has also initiated a review of the Local Policing operating model across Northern Ireland and a linked review of the current PSNI shift pattern as well as initiating cross border work with An Garda Síochána to better deliver services for border communities.

During his time as Commander in Newry and Mourne District, Davy was influential in the Police Normalisation Strategy which saw police move from a heavy reliance on military support in this border area to a community based policing style, while also leading significant operations to address serious and organised crime, against a backdrop of continued terrorist threat.

One of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's most experienced operational commanders, Davy has led the policing response to significant events across Northern Ireland including the role of Northern Ireland Tactical Commander following the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

In April 2024, Davy assumed command as Assistant Chief Constable Crime Department and is responsible for Organised Crime Branch, Serious Crime Branch, Intelligence Branch, Specialist Operations Branch, Crime Support Branch and Public Protection Branch. Within this role Davy is leading a review of Crime Department to ensure the Police Service can continue to deliver for communities across Northern Ireland today and into the future.

Also appointed were T/ACC Ryan Henderson, who is responsible for the Justice Department, encompassing Legacy and Disclosure Branch, Criminal Justice Branch, Contact Management, Custody Policy and Justice Healthcare.

He began his career in policing with the Derbyshire Constabulary in February 1997 before returning ‘home’ to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2007. He has served in senior leadership roles within Public Protection, Community Safety and Local Policing as well as having worked as Staff Officer to the Chief Constable. His most recent operational command was as Area Commander for Derry City & Strabane.

T/ACC Melanie Jones is responsible for the Operations Support Department. Born and brought up in West Yorkshire, she began her policing career with the West Yorkshire Police in 1993 and has served in a wide range of posts from proactive crime operations working alongside other police services and regional crime units investigating the importation and wholesale production and distribution of drugs.

Policing Board Chair Mukesh Sharma MBE DL said: “Appointing the PSNI leadership team is an important role for the Board, and I am delighted to confirm that Davy Beck, Ryan Henderson and Melanie Jones have been appointed as Assistant Chief Constables.

“Each will play a key role in supporting the Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable and Chief Operating Officer role as members of the PSNI Service Executive Team. As a Board we look forward to working with them in the time ahead.”