Five applications for Hampshire chief constable job

Hampshire police is without an officer in the top job after Andy Marsh left on January 31. The county’s police and crime commissioner Simon Hayes said applications were received from as far as Australia, although that application has not progressed.

But only five will now be considered as he moves to short-list candidates. All five are either assistant or deputy chief constables.

A short list will be drawn up on Tuesday with an interview process on February 24 and 25.

By the evening of February 25 a preferred candidate will have been chosen, which will then go to the police and crime panel.

Around 30 people, including officers, judiciary, PCSOs and workers from the third sector, have been involved in the selection.

‘I’m very keen that, although it rests with me ultimately, the decision has many members of the community can have a view and input,’ Mr Hayes said.

And he said it was right for him to select the chief constable despite his own position being up for election in May. He said: ‘The responsibility is with me as police and crime commissioner. I’m not going to abdicate that.’