Jon Burrows

Jon Burrows is an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician who has served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim since August 2025.^[1] Jon Burrows began his policing career in 1995 after initially applying to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), the predecessor to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). He served as a senior police officer in the Police Service of Northern Ireland until his retirement in 2021.^[2]

Jon Burrows MLA
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 August 2025
Preceded by	Colin Crawford
Personal details
Political party	Ulster Unionist Party

Career

Burrows began his career in the now dissolved Royal Ulster Constabulary, before moving to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and served in a number of roles, including as Area Commander for Foyle^[3] and head of the internal discipline branch,^[4] until he retired on health grounds in 2021.

Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly

In July 2025, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) announced that Burrows had been selected to replace Colin Crawford as MLA for North Antrim.^[5][6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

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 defended the majority of PSNI officers, stating that such incidents should not be used to malign the entire force.^[9]