Five in line for Devon & Cornwall Chief Constable post

Police & Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg will have five people to choose from when appointing his new chief constable. Interviews will take place on 15th January and candidates will have to give a presentation and answer questions on their experience.

In the job advertisement, Tony Hogg wrote: "The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner covers the largest geographical police area in England, extending 180 miles from the Dorset and Somerset borders in the east to the Isles of Scilly in the west. Our policing area presents very different challenges – large cities of Exeter and Plymouth, the longest coastline in England, a vast rural population and a significant number of summer visitors due to a buoyant tourism industry. Effective policing needs to be delivered against a backdrop of reducing budgets, an increase in the volume and complexity of demands and a changing police landscape."

He also wrote that he was looking to appoint "... an individual who has excellent professional policing skills and experience who will offer high profile leadership and support to our many police officers, staff, and volunteers, who has strategic vision matched with the ability and determination to turn aspirations into practical delivery and who can work effectively with partners to bring together new and innovative approaches to reducing crime and improving safety and security for everyone." 

The appointment will be subject to a confirmation hearing by the force's Police and Crime Panel on 8th February. Acting Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer has led the force since March 2012. The candidates, who have not been named although are likely to include Mr Sawyer, will be interviewed by a five-strong selection and interview panel including new Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg.