Assistant Commissioner, Eastern Region

Assistant Commissioner Roads Policing and Community Engagement

Name: Paula Hilman

Native of: Belfast

Appointed: November 2024

Joined: May 2020

Career Highlights:

Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman had 34 years’ policing experience with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) before joining An Garda Síochána in May 2020. As Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing & Community Engagement she has responsibility for the National Roads Policing Bureau, the National Youth Diversion Bureau, the National Community Engagement Bureau, Public Order and Major Event’s policy.

Previously as a Detective Chief Superintendent Paula was in charge of PSNI’s Public Protection Branch. The Branch was responsible for proactive and reactive specialist and serious investigations in relation to adult and child vulnerability and abuse. Paula was Chair of the Strategic Management Board which oversees Public Protection Arrangements for Northern Ireland. She was a member of the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Adult Safeguarding Partnership.

In June 2019, Paula was elected as the first female President of the Superintendents Association for Northern Ireland, the staff association that represents the Superintending ranks within PSNI.

Paula previously held the hate crime portfolio for PSNI, internally she led on the introduction of new governance structures and policy for hate crime and externally worked collaboratively with partners to improve the response to victims. She was also the PSNI strategic lead for the integration of Syrian Refugees into Northern Ireland.

As Head of Criminal Justice Branch, Paula worked collaboratively with the Public Prosecution Service to establish Northern Ireland’s first Victim & Witness Care Unit and introduce Registered Intermediaries into the Criminal Justice System.

Paula is a Strategic Firearms Commander and Gold Public Order Commander with extensive experience in operational policing in Northern Ireland.

In 2013, Paula was awarded a MBE for services to Policing and the Community.

Qualifications:

BA (Hons) Degree in Public Policy & Management (1998)
Gold Public Order Commander
Strategic Firearms Commander
Alumnus of Common Purpose, the Chief Executive Forum Woman’s Leadership and Acumen Executive Leadership Programmes