The Met has been mired in a series of incidents that have damaged public confidence, including deeply offensive messages shared by a team based at Charing Cross station and the strip-search of a black schoolgirl.ĭame Cressida admitted herself that Sarah Everard's rape and murder by then-serving police officer Wayne Couzens had brought 'shame' on the force and damaged public confidence in police.īritain's most senior officer also failed to get a grip on a culture of racism, sexism and bullying that has haunted Scotland Yard for years. Potential candidates for the post include former director general of the National Crime Agency Dame Lynne Owens and current Met Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes. Met chief Dame Cressida Dick left the job last week after five years, with her deputy Sir Stephen House temporarily taking the reins until a permanent successor is appointed in the summer. 'But the way Cress was treated, and the increasingly political nature of that job - it's fair to say that's turned a few people off.'Ī Home Office source said: 'We want to make sure that chief constables know they are welcome to apply, that we want to attract the best from across the country.' They want a decent field as it's the most senior job in policing. One senior officer said: 'It's not surprising they've been trying to get lots of people to apply. He served in the Met for more than 20 years and is considered highly likely to apply. Shaun Sawyer - The chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police announced this weekend that he would stand down from his current role. Ian Livingstone - The non-nonsense head of Police Scotland for four years who impressed Boris Johnson with his effective policing operation at COP26 in Glasgow. Lucy D'Orsi - Previously served as deputy assistant commissioner at the Met before moving to lead the British Transport Police in 2020, where she has impressed colleagues. Served as chief constable of Surrey for three years to 2011, when he joined the Met as an assistant commissioner. Sir Mark Rowley - A familiar figure after leading the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism operations for four years.Īlthough he resigned from the police in 2018, Sir Mark is still only 58 and sources believe he could be tempted back by the biggest job in British policing. He's currently serving as an Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations Mr Jukes is best known for tackling Rotherham grooming gangs while borough commander in the Yorkshire town from 2006 to 2010. He worked as a detective and rose through the ranks to represent UK police forces at G8 meetings and lead on national anti-terror strategy. Matt Jukes - Matt Jukes joined South Yorkshire police in 1995 three years after graduating with a degree in mathematics from Oxford. She has now fully recovered from cancer. Seen as a safe pair of hands, she is known to be a favourite of Home Secretary Priti Patel. Dame Lynn Owens - Widely admired and was seen as the natural successor to the Yard top job until she retired on health grounds last autumn.ĭame Lynne led the National Crime Agency - dubbed 'Britain's FBI' - from 2016 until last October.