Burrows has national policing experience and was a long serving member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). He rose to the rank of Chief Inspector,which is considered an upper middle-management rank,sitting below the rank of Superintendent in the PSNI,until his retirement in 2021.[4]
Early life and education
Originally from Bangor,County Down,Burrows was educated at Bangor Grammar School before graduating from Ulster University with a BA (Hons) in Law and Government;and he also has a Master's in Criminal Justice (MSc) and a Master's in Law (LLM).[5]
Police career
Borrows followed his father Colin into a policing career. Colin Burrows retired from the PSNI in 2002 after 31 years of police service. He was awarded the Queens Police Medal in 1991.[6]
Jon Burrows' policing career saw him serve in both London and predominantly in Northern Ireland in the PSNI,where he held a number of roles,including Area Commander for Foyle[7] and head of the internal discipline branch,[8] until he retired on health grounds in 2021.
As part of his police career,Burrows headed up the team that delivered the policing around the Fleadh Cheoil in Derry in 2013. That event saw an Irish-speaking officer on duty at a mobile police station in Derry city centre along with other officers fluent in French and Spanish. [9] Burrows said at the time that "this demonstrates how diverse and reflective the police service is of the community we serve."
Political career
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (2025–present)
Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (2026-present)
On 8 January 2026,Burrows announced his candidacy for the leadership of the UUP in the 2026 leadership election.[13] At the close of nominations on 15 January,Burrows was the only candidate nominated and is thus expected to be ratified as the party's next leader.[14]
Controversies
Sex Discrimination Tribunal
Jon Burrows was mentioned multiple times in an industrial tribunal brought by former Chief Superintendent Emma Bond,who alleged sex discrimination within the PSNI. Bond claimed that Burrows exhibited bias against her during internal investigations. Burrows expressed being "shocked" by these allegations,emphasizing his commitment to professionalism and fairness in his role.[15]
Ormeau Road Incident
Burrows was a vocal critic of the Ombudsman’s handling of the 2021 Ormeau Road incident,where a PSNI officer was unlawfully suspended. He argued that the Ombudsman failed to investigate the actions of senior officers involved and instead pursued disciplinary charges against the suspended officer. Burrows contended that the suspension was politically motivated and not based on misconduct.[16]
Sexual Misconduct Allegations within the PSNI
In 2022,the Police Ombudsman found that a PSNI officer had inappropriately initiated a personal relationship with a woman he met during a domestic abuse investigation. The officer received a final written warning for gross misconduct. Burrows stated that robust discipline should be delivered for those officers who abuse their position but also defended the majority of PSNI officers,stating that such incidents should not be used to malign the entire force.[17]
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