Only one application for West Midlands Police chief role
He is almost guaranteed to become the next West Midlands Police chief constable - but now it emerges Dave Thompson was the only one who even applied.
The deputy chief constable was confirmed last week as the 'preferred candidate' to succeed chief constable Chris Sims when he retires early next year.
The proposal will have to go before the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel on October 12.
But sources told the Express & Star that Mr Thompson was in fact the only person to apply for the job of running the second biggest police force in England and Wales.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: "The chief constable of West Midlands Police is one of the most senior and high profile policing posts in the country.
"As a result there are only a relatively small number of suitably qualified potential candidates for the role. On this occasion there was a single applicant for the post.
"During the previous two recruitments to the post, there were only two applicants in each case.
"The assessment was no formality. If the candidate was not of the exceptionally high quality required I would not have recommended him to the panel for confirmation."
Mr Thompson has been with the West Midlands force since 2010.
Prior to that he did three years as assistance chief constable with Greater Manchester Police.
If his appointment is approved he will succeed Mr Sims, who has run the West Midlands force since 2009, following two years in charge at neighbouring Staffordshire.
Hiring chief constables is one of the key roles of elected police commissioners, introduced by the coalition government in 2012.
Mr Jamieson put Mr Thompson through a process that included asking members of the public to contribute towards the job description and required him to face an interview panel of young people.
