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Female officers make history by applying for top job at Met
Justin Davenport02.12.08
Two women have joined the running to become Britain's most senior police officer, it emerged today.
Jane Stichbury, one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary, and Julie Spence, the chief of Cambridgeshire police, are both contenders to become head of Scotland Yard.
Ms Stichbury, 53, who after a high-flying stint at the Met went on to be chief of Dorset Police, is considered a serious contender for the post.
They are the first women to apply for the Commissioner's £253,000-a-year position.
Britian's top black police officer also made history yesterday when he put his name forward to succeed Sir Ian Blair.
Mike Fuller, 49, Chief Constable of Kent, was born in south London to Jamaican-born immigrants and became a Met Police cadet at a time when there were only five other black officers in the force.
The Home Office was today beginning to draw up a shortlist of candidates to replace Sir Ian, who stepped down on Monday.
As many as 11 police chiefs have applied.
Sir Paul Stephenson, 55, the Deputy Commissioner and acting Met Commissioner, was seen as a front runner before he authorised the arrest of Tory MP Damian Green. Sir Hugh Orde, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, is now seen as favourite.
The Met's anti-terror chief, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, has also applied for the five-year position.
The Home Office will draw up a shortlist this month. After a series of interviews, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will make her final recommendation to the Queen.
Reader views (16)
I think it is about time a woman got the 'top' job & Jane Stichbury fits that category completely. She has vast experience in differing areas making her a a good choice,as well as being young enough to see the many changes that are necessary in the Met through to implementation.
- Bob Denston, S.W.F. Essex
It seems to me that Hugh Orde is riding on a self delusional escapde that he is fit to be commissioner of the Met. His track record is abismal, A man who cheated on his wife with another Police Officer is certainly not a man of integrity or honour. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularly voted the PSNI out of 43 forces was voted as the worst police force.
Hugh Orde cant even balance his books and seen his £1 billion budget given to him being £174 million in the red. Along with being interviewed under caution by the Police Ombudsman and found to have lied. Hugh Orde is nothing but arrogant and contrite and nothing more than a wolf in sheeps clothing completely inept and protects his PSNI officers who have been caught bang to rights and has the cheek to be condescending with his poor track record.
Is Hugh Orde the man you want as your commisioner of Police with his abismal track record? The people of Northern Ireland would tell you no he is certainly not fit to be in the Police service!!!
- Kevin, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Oh my goodness, the time of the month 'jokes' are still being wheeled out to order by stupid, small minded idiots? Is that their attempt at having a sense of humour? It's so pitiful, I feel quite sorry for them.
- We, Kent, UK
The post should go to someone who is young enough to be able to see through any changes that are made.
Too many times the top job is given to someone who only serves 2 or 3 years, before leaving with a massive pension payout.
More often than not, it seems that becoming the Chief is more about boosting your retirement income, than actually wanting to make a difference.
- Neil Harrison, London,England
Why does London's police chief have a higher salary thsn the Prime Minister?
- John, Westminster, London
If she does a good job IT DOESN'T MATTER !!!
- P I Staker, London
Gawd 'elp us, I hope they are beyond their monthly cycle.
- Joe Jones, Leicester UK
Yeah, and they'l make history by being the first female cops to be turned down!!! Have they had their babies yet? heaven help us when its the time of the month!!!
- Dc, London
i hope she gets the job.john mckim glasgow
- John Mckim, glasgow.uk
as with all jobs i hope this position will go to the person best qualified and not awarded because of of that persons race or sexual preference, we have for too long award top jobs to people who are not qualified to do the job, who as soon as they realize it their first reaction is to sue on grounds of racial or sexual harassment
- Scouser, liverpool
And if they don't get the job their will probably be a discrimination case against the met.
- Branson Thomas, London UK
Lets hope that either would be able to do a better job than any of the hopelessly inadequate 'Blairs babes' who all failed miserably!!
- Pat, Brixton SW
The culture of the Met is now so disfunctional that no one from the Met should be appointed as Commissioner. The Met is now like an episode of Eastenders. They are too busy being political and fighting themselves rather than fighting crime. The management of the Met has also let down its rank and file officers. The management are power-hungry career people who are only interested in getting to the top. In the meantime, there is rampant lawlessness in some parts of London.
- Anthony, London
Oh goodie !
Lets have a black top cop in London or maybe a woman top cop ....in the interest of being politically correct !
Forget who is the most suitably qualified person - that doesn't come into it any more !
- Kathy Doyle, London - England
we need another obama moment!
- Kevin, LEEDS, WEST YORKSHIRE
Its more about who is most able - Man or Woman to run the show at the Met. Saying that, it would be a nice and refeshing change - we need another Maggie Thatcher to take helm of the failing policies of the Met.
- Mortgage Broker N3, London, England
