Speaking in Dublin after his first meeting with his counterpart in the Irish Republic, Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, the police chief argued that terrorism and criminality are interlinked.

"I think it's very helpful to see it as a criminal enterprise," he said.

Both senior police officers, in the aftermath of the discovery of a 600lb bomb in south Armagh recently, deemed the dissident threat to be "substantial".

The PSNI are continuing a high visibility operation in response to the ongoing dissident threat.

Meanwhile, Mr Baggott, a week into his new job, is facing his first controversy linked to his role as former head of the Leicestershire Constabulary.

The force have been partly blamed for the death of a mother and her disabled daughter.

Fiona Pilkington killed herself and her daughter Francesca Hardwick in 2007 after repeatedly asking for help with bullying and anti-social behaviour.

Ms Pilkington is claimed to have made as many as 30 calls to the local police.

UUP Policing Board member Basil McCrea has called on Mr Baggott to apologise.