Deadline for new police chief extended after just one suitable candidate applies

The deadline for a new chief constable for an under-fire force has been extended, after just one suitable candidate came forward for the £159,000-a-year role.
Humberside Police is still looking for a new chief constable following the departure of Justine CurranHumberside Police is still looking for a new chief constable following the departure of Justine Curran
Humberside Police is still looking for a new chief constable following the departure of Justine Curran

Interviews for the new chief constable of Humberside Police, following the sudden departure of Justine Curran in February, were due to be held today.

But instead the closing date for candidates for the £130,291 to £159,244 post, originally April 2, has been extended until this Friday.

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Ms Curran announced her immediate retirement after being asked to consider her position by the PCC Keith Hunter, ahead of a damning HMIC report, which rated the force “inadequate” for protecting vulnerable people. Overall its effectiveness was judged as requiring improvement for the second year running. Its efficiency also is rated as "requires improvement" - up from "inadequate" in 2015.

Police and crime commissioner Keith HunterPolice and crime commissioner Keith Hunter
Police and crime commissioner Keith Hunter

HMIC inspector Michael Cunningham said earlier this month in its "end of year" report, the force displayed “weaknesses in identifying and addressing the needs of the most vulnerable”.

The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner said rather than re-advertising, all eligible candidates had been written to via the National Police Chiefs Council.

On its website it added: "Following the shortlisting process we only found one candidate that met the expectations of the panel. To enable a competitive process the panel agreed that they would like to go back out to the market and see if there was any additional interest in the post."

A spokesman said today they wanted to make it "a bit more of a competitive field."