Contenders line up for top police job

Leading figures in the UK’s policing establishment will file their applications on Wednesday for the post of commissioner at the Metropolitan Police – a force embattled by scandal and in search of its third chief in three years.

While the job retains enormous prestige, the resignations of Sir Paul Stephenson over his links with a suspect in the phone-hacking affair and the previous chief, Sir Ian Blair, who lost the backing of the London mayor, set grim precedents for prospective applicants.

The row over the policing of the riots last week demonstrates the role’s potential pitfalls: the commissioner must be both operationally bold and skilful in defence of decisions.

Compounding these difficulties, the Met chief has to tread carefully between rival national bosses in Westminster and local leaders in City Hall while also overseeing an immense force of 55,000 staff.

Blair Gibbs, head of crime and justice at the Policy Exchange think-tank, argues that the Met’s “monster” proportions are likely to cause problems for any chief, adding that it is responsible for too many functions, from borough policing to counter-terrorism and protection of the royal family.

“We have to think very seriously about how the Met operates and who heads it because it’s a huge organisation, with very diverse and complex demands, and in recent years it’s not been well led,” said Mr Gibbs. His suggestion is that counter-terrorism tasks should be shifted to the new, FBI-style National Crime Agency to reduce pressure on the leadership.

Theresa May, home secretary, said on Tuesday she was seeking a “single-minded crime fighter” to lead the force into the biggest peacetime policing operation yet – the 2012 Olympics. The field of candidates includes those who applied for the job last time it was vacant in 2008, such as Sir Hugh Orde, Association of Chief Police Officers president and rising stars from forces outside London such as Sara Thornton, the much-praised chief constable of Thames Valley police.

Despite clear enthusiasm from David Cameron, prime minister, for importing US policing experts, particularly Bill Bratton, former New York and Los Angeles police chief, the home office application prohibits candidates from outside the UK. Favourites are Bernard Hogan-Howe, an establishment figure and the Met’s interim deputy commissioner and Stephen House, the chief constable of Strathclyde police who has first-hand experience in dealing with gang culture – an invaluable skill as police scramble to deal with the aftermath of the riots.