evidence: Two separate incidents 22 https://news.sky.com/story/simon-byrne-head-of-police-service-of-northern-ireland-has-resigned-12954981 seem to lie behind the resignation of the chief constable of the PSNI, Simon Byrne, on 4 September. [...] These led to the DUP sending a motion expressing no confidence in Byrne to the Policing Board, which then appointed his deputy, Mark Hamilton, to step up as acting chief constable. However he was also implicated in the unlawful disciplinary proceedings and his appointment led the Police Federation, representing serving police officers, to pass a motion of no confidence in him, 23 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/police-federation-hamilton-psni-northern-ireland-belfast-b2407514.html along with fellow senior PSNI leaders. [...] The PSNI has launched a recruitment exercise for a new chief constable which it hopes to conclude in November. The Policing Board is reported to have chosen a preferred candidate for the position of interim chief constable, 24 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-67006063 which will have to be confirmed by the secretary of state.