Mark McEwan to head new North West policing district

Former G district commander and current assistant chief constable Stephen Martin, the senior officer responsible for district policing, said the appointment was part of changes brought about by a swingeing budget reduction and the need to align with the new supercouncils, which come into effect this spring.

The current G District commander, Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin is to take up a position within Service Improvement Department at police headquarters.

The three current G District area commanders, chief inspectors Tony Callaghan, Alan Hutton and Andy Lemon, will remain within the Derry City and Strabane District.

Superintendent John Magill has been appointed district commander, Causeway Coast and Glens.

Meanwhile, the G District Operations Manager, Superintendent Garry Eaton, has been appointed to a northern area command role.

The current Magherafelt policing area will be part of the Mid Ulster District.

The commander will be Superintendent Mike Baird. His command team will include Chief Inspector Jane Humphries and Chief Inspector Graham Dodds.

Superintendent McEwan will take up his new post with effect from February 16 in order to help shape and design policing in the new district.

The Derry City and Strabane District is within the Northern Area coordinating tier, which will be led by Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray in his new role as area coordinator.

ACC Martin said: “The new district councils come into existence on April 1, 2015, and I have been charged with shaping our front line service delivery so that our district command boundaries mirror those councils.

“Some key decisions have already been taken in relation to the new policing structure and how it will function.

“Senior officers have now been appointed to deliver policing within Northern Ireland’s communities and their core purpose will be to continue to ‘Keep People Safe’ through the ethos of Policing with the Community.

“We will move from the existing seven policing districts to 11.

“However, we are making this change at a time of continuing budget cuts and so we cannot simply replicate our existing district structures taking into account our reducing resources.

“While leaner and more streamlined, the new 11 districts will focus on local priorities under the leadership of a district commander.

“The districts will be supported by an area coordinating tier covering Belfast and Northern and Southern parts of Northern Ireland.”