Search for new Lincolnshire Police chief constable is renewed

The post of Lincolnshire Police chief constable is to be readvertised on Monday (Oct 24) after the first attempt failed to find a suitable candidate.

Two applications were considered by the appointments panel on Tuesday (Oct 18).

One UK-based application had “considerable merit but provided insufficient evidence against the sifting criteria for appointment”. The panel recommended that it should not go forward to the interview stage. An overseas applicant was deemed not to meet the eligibility criteria.

Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones

Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones , whose role includes appointing a chief constable and holding them to account, said: “I am determined to find the best possible candidate for Lincolnshire and following the appointment panel’s unanimous advice to readvertise will give the best chance for success.”

Current chief constable Neil Rhodes is retiring in early 2017 after 31 years’ service.

Mr Jones said last month: “Neil Rhodes has been an outstanding leader for Lincolnshire Police and remains very popular both within the force as well as amongst the wider Lincolnshire community and he will be a hard act for anyone to follow.”

A recent change enables PCCs to recruit a chief constable from overseas, but only from New Zealand, Australia, Canada or America.