Four apply to be Dorset chief constable (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Four apply to be Dorset chief constable

1:00pm Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in Bridport

FOUR people have applied to be the new Chief Constable of Dorset.

Out of the applicants three are deputy chief constables and one is an assistant chief constable in police forces in England and Wales.

Debbie Simpson, the current acting chief constable for Dorset, is one of the four applicants.

A five-strong panel, including the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill, will meet to consider the applications on January 11 with the same panel undertaking a two-day selection process on January 21 and 22.

The successful applicant will be formally nominated by the police and crime commissioner to the Dorset police and crime panel for scrutiny and approval on February 12.

It is hoped that the new chief constable will be able to take up the post as soon as possible after the formal selection process.

Dorset police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill said: “There are currently 11 chief constable posts advertised or in the process of recruiting in England and Wales.

“With so many vacancies at the same time, I am pleased to have received four applications.

“The number of candidates and their high calibre is testament to the excellent reputation of the force.”