The policeman leading the hunt for the killers of the Massereene Barracks soldiers and one of his own officers in Craigavon is to step down as head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland within months, The Times has learnt.

Sir Hugh Orde, Chief Constable in Belfast for the past seven years, is the clear front-runner to become the next president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and has circulated a letter to his senior colleagues across the country canvassing support.

His imminent departure will leave Northern Ireland’s police force looking for new leadership at a time when security in the province is in its most parlous state for more than a decade. Sir Hugh, who has briefed the Prime Minister this week on the current position, may face pressure to remain in Ulster because of the three killings. But he could be confirmed as the next head of Acpo this week unless another candidate steps forward and triggers an election for the position.

Sir Hugh’s deputy, Paul Leighton, will also leave the force in May, when he is due to retire. Because of the inexperience of officers in the next tier, the PSNI will have to look outside Northern Ireland for its new chief constable.

“Hugh is the man to beat for the Acpo post, he is well out in front and it is not clear that anyone is going to stand against him,” a senior police source said.

“He has a lot of support. There is a feeling in the police service that he will be the strong voice it needs when police reform is likely to be a major issue at the election.

“Some may want him to stay in Belfast because of what has happened but he has been there a long time and has probably achieved as much as he can. The Acpo job does not become vacant until July, so he will have time to stabilise the situation before leaving.”

Sir Hugh, 50, a police officer since 1977, narrowly failed in his recent attempt to become Metropolitan Police Commissioner, losing out to Sir Paul Stephenson in the last selection round.

He is hugely respected in policing and is seen as an ideal leader for the service during what many chiefs believe could be a turbulent election campaign in which political control of the police will be a divisive topic. During Sir Hugh’s period in Northern Ireland he has been building a mod ern service out of the former Royal Ulster Constabulary, while dealing with Ulster’s intensely difficult political scene.

Another source said: “Hugh is very conscientious and he will feel he needs to solve these killings. But he has been in Ulster a long time now and has actually been hugely successful in countering the dissident threat, thwarting several previous attacks and bringing in the resources he needs.

“There is a lot of confidence that the people behind these murders will be tracked down very quickly.”

A number of prominent police chiefs would be expected to apply for the vacancy in Northern Ireland if Sir Hugh takes the Acpo presidency. Sir Ken Jones, the outgoing Acpo president, might put his name forward and there is speculation that Assistant Commissioner John Yates of Scotland Yard might be a candidate.

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