Norfolk re-starts search for Chief
Norfolk is targeting the Strategic Command course after re-starting its search for a new Chief Constable.Uncertainty surrounds one of the top jobs in policing after a recruitment process was met with a lack of interest from enough suitable candidates.
Norfolk has re-opened applications for its Chief Constable because not enough candidates applied.
That was despite the College of Policing contacting every qualified senior officer in the country.
The force’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Giles Orpen-Smellie, has extended the application date because the recruitment process wouldn’t have been rigorous enough to stand scrutiny.
His own position as transparancy lead for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners meant he was left with no choice.
Mr Orpen-Smellie said: “The role of Chief Constable for Norfolk brings with it a multitude of opportunities and I am committed to ensuring we are able to open the recruitment to as a wide a pool of candidates as possible.
“I was clear when I launched the recruitment that I wanted to attract a diverse field of candidates. Therefore, I will be reopening the process.”
Paul Sanford remains the Temporary Chief Constable having stepped up from Deputy Chief Constable.
The new deadline of 8 November has been set in the hopes that people who successfully complete the College of Policing’s strategic command course on 5 November will be eager enough to send in their CVs.
The PCC is also hoping officers who missed out on promotions over the summer will be ready to look for fresh opportunities.
But it means the force is set to have been without a permanent leader for six months.
Former Chief Constable Simon Bailey retired at the end of June and the initial search was opened in August for the job which comes with a £153, 282 salary.
The job specification hasn’t changed – including the five-year fixed term.
Norfolk has been hit by timing. The decision to appoint was delayed while the new PCC settled in post after May’s election.
But a flurry of moves over the summer mean the field of potential candidates has shrunk.
Staffordshire and Avon and Somerset both went out to recruitment at the same time as Norfolk.
Dyfed-Powys and Cleveland appointed in July and Humberside and West Mercia appointed in September, reducing the field of candidates.
The only other senior roles open at the moment are the Deputy Chief Constable of Dorset and the Assistant Chief Constable for Merseyside.
Norfolk’s team hope that senior officers within Staffordshire and Avon and Somerset may now come forward.
Mark Stokes, Chief Executive for Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner said: “We were surprised and disappointed but we were against two other forces at the same time. The new Chief Constable needs a clear mandate and the PCC made a commitment that it wouldn’t be a shoe-in.”
He added: “It’s a good job with a top-performing force. And the PCC is open to new ideas and innovation.”
Mr Orpen-Smellie added: “Norfolk is a fantastic county to live and work in and has a hard-working and dedicated police force working for the residents of the county.”
News Archive
- December 2023 (3)
- November 2023 (5)
- October 2023 (4)
- September 2023 (5)
- August 2023 (4)
- July 2023 (3)
- June 2023 (5)
- May 2023 (2)
- April 2023 (5)
- March 2023 (3)
- February 2023 (7)
- January 2023 (11)
- December 2022 (6)
- November 2022 (5)
- October 2022 (5)
- September 2022 (6)
- August 2022 (2)
- July 2022 (11)
- June 2022 (8)
- May 2022 (11)
- April 2022 (8)
- March 2022 (3)
- February 2022 (5)
- January 2022 (12)
- December 2021 (1)
- November 2021 (9)
- October 2021 (4)
- September 2021 (10)
- August 2021 (9)
- July 2021 (12)
- June 2021 (4)
- May 2021 (11)
- April 2021 (14)
- March 2021 (14)
- February 2021 (19)
- January 2021 (18)
- December 2020 (6)
- November 2020 (12)
- October 2020 (14)
- September 2020 (15)
- August 2020 (16)
- July 2020 (16)
- June 2020 (18)
- May 2020 (22)
- April 2020 (18)
- March 2020 (23)
- February 2020 (20)
- January 2020 (4)
- December 2019 (5)
- November 2019 (6)
- October 2019 (5)
- September 2019 (6)
- August 2019 (8)
- July 2019 (6)
- June 2019 (8)
- May 2019 (8)
- April 2019 (8)
- March 2019 (10)
- February 2019 (9)
- January 2019 (9)
- December 2018 (9)
- November 2018 (12)
- October 2018 (8)
- September 2018 (7)
- August 2018 (11)
- July 2018 (7)
- June 2018 (9)
- May 2018 (9)
- April 2018 (12)
- March 2018 (10)
- February 2018 (8)
- January 2018 (5)
- December 2017 (6)
- November 2017 (4)
- October 2017 (3)
- September 2017 (10)
- August 2017 (5)
- July 2017 (5)
- June 2017 (6)
- May 2017 (6)
- April 2017 (2)
- March 2017 (3)
- February 2017 (4)
- January 2017 (1)
- December 2016 (3)
- November 2016 (4)
- October 2016 (1)
- September 2016 (4)
- August 2016 (4)
- July 2016 (1)
- June 2016 (5)
- May 2016 (3)
- April 2016 (1)
- March 2016 (3)
- February 2016 (3)
- January 2016 (3)
- December 2015 (3)
- November 2015 (3)
- October 2015 (3)
- September 2015 (2)
- August 2015 (1)
- July 2015 (11)
- June 2015 (1)