Chief constable rule change: David Ford 'little Nero' says DUP The justice minister has been criticised as a "little Nero" after announcing plans to change criteria for the job of NI's chief constable. David Ford announced the change on Monday but the matter will now go before the Stormont executive. Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party expressed outrage at the move. Johnathan Craig, of the DUP, said: "Does he actually think he sits there as a little Nero and has the right to change rules?" Mr Ford wants to remove a rule that applicants must have served at assistant chief constable rank for a minimum of two years outside of Northern Ireland. The change would make the two-year criteria "desirable" rather than mandatory. He made the announcement after the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, announced he is to retire in September. Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie has already said that she will retire in March. Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster on Tuesday, Mr Craig, who sits on the Policing Board, which appoints the chief constable and holds him to account, was critical of the justice minister. He said Mr Ford had "compromised" the recruiting process that is already under way and had "introduced poison into the entire system." He said he hoped the executive would turn the plan down. DUP MLA Jonathan Craig criticised the move by David Ford They need to bear in mind the recruitment process has already started. There is a debate to be had around the merits of officers having experience in other forces and the mechanisms around how that can actually be delivered," he said. That's a debate, I believe, we were all up to but, we all realised that if there was to be a legislative change, it wasn't going to happen for this process It really brings into question how the minister thinks. Does he actually think he sits there as a little Nero and has the right to change rules? Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly, who also sits on the Policing Board, said the announcement was an "unwelcome and ill-timed intervention" that had angered many. This position of chief constable is one that needs to inspire confidence. Changing recruitment practices while the Policing Board is preparing an appointments panel can only be seen as an interference in that process. It is clear that David Ford has attempted a solo run in relation to this matter and should now explain himself to the Policing Board and to his executive colleagues. The matter will be discussed by the executive on Thursday. Unless Mr Ford, an Alliance minister, withdraws the proposal, it is likely to be overturned due to the larger numbers of DUP and Sinn Féin on the executive. Mr Ford's amendment would have widened the pool of potential internal PSNI applicants. Potential applicants will, instead, have to have successfully completed the Strategic Command Course, or an equivalent. The amendment would mean other high-profile PSNI assistant chief constables who have completed the Strategic Command Course, including Will Kerr and Drew Harris, would be able to apply. So, too, would senior officers from other UK police forces who have not been in post for more than two years. The Strategic Command Course is the UK's national qualification course for promotion to chief officer.