Independent review of NI Policing Board announced
BBCAn independent review of the effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Policing Board is to be carried out.
Justice Minister Naomi Long said it will be "tightly focused" and be finished by the end of December.
It will "determine the extent to which the board carries out its statutory duties to hold the PSNI to account".
A review was first mooted a year ago in the midst of a policing crisis that caused the resignation of former chief constable Simon Byrne.
"A review of the board was initially announced by the former chair of the board, following a series of policing-related incidents," Mrs Long said.
"However, it has always been my preference that an independent review be carried out.
"I look forward to receiving the findings and recommendations in due course."
The review will be conducted by a former senior civil servant, Paul Sweeney, who will be advised by John Topping, a senior lecturer in criminology at Queen's University.
The chair of the Policing Board, Mukesh Sharma, said the board will "fully assist" the review.
The board is made up of 19 members, nine of them MLAs who are nominated by their parties.
It was established in 2001.
Its primary function is to publicly hold the chief constable and the police service to account.