Two top jobs in British policing only attract one applicant each

Adverts for two of the most senior jobs in British policing, both paying more than £200,000 a year, have attracted only one applicant each, the Guardian has learned.

- Vikram Dodd

The roles advertised were deputy commissioner of London's Metropolitan police and chief constable of Merseyside police, based in Liverpool. Rob Carden was the sole applicant for the Merseyside job and has been awarded the role. As the current chief of police in Cumbria, he would have been a strong candidate even if he had faced competition.

Matt Jukes, the Met's assistant commissioner and head of counter-terrorism, was the only applicant to replace Lynne Owens, who is standing down as deputy commissioner.