The Guardian has revealed that two of the most prestigious positions in British policing, each offering salaries exceeding £200,000 annually, have drawn only a single applicant for each role.

The positions in question are the deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the chief constable of Merseyside Police, located in Liverpool.

There are growing concerns among high-ranking officials in both policing and government regarding the shortage of qualified individuals at the upper echelons of the police force.

Rob Carden, who currently leads the Cumbria force, has been named the preferred candidate for the chief constable role with Merseyside. Although he was the only applicant, his qualifications would have made him a formidable choice even with competition.

Meanwhile, Matt Jukes, an assistant commissioner with the Met and head of its counter-terrorism unit, has applied for the deputy commissioner role of the Metropolitan Police, stepping in for Lynne Owens, who is retiring.

While the official hiring process for the Met’s deputy commissionership has yet to conclude, senior insiders suggest that Jukes is almost guaranteed to secure the position permanently.

The deputy commissioner role for the Met offers an annual salary of over £250,000 and is appointed through royal warrant, with the home secretary making the selection after consulting with London’s mayor.

Jukes is anticipated to take on the role of interim deputy commissioner and would have been a standout candidate even if the competition had been fiercer.

Should he become the permanent deputy commissioner, it could position him as a top contender to succeed Mark Rowley as the Metropolitan Police commissioner whenever Rowley’s term concludes. Rowley’s contract is set to expire in September 2027, with Stephen Watson, the chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, seen as his most likely rival.

Jukes’s temporary promotion will result in a new leader for the counter-terrorism division, a position recently filled by Vicki Evans for at least six months. Traditionally, the head of counter-terrorism has been sourced from the Met; however, Evans has experience in both the Cambridgeshire force and the Dyfed-Powys force in Wales before becoming the senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism.

If Jukes is confirmed as the Met’s deputy commissioner permanently, the position of the country’s chief counter-terrorism officer will be opened for recruitment.

Additionally, Richard Smith, a Metropolitan officer, will assume the role of acting senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism. A critical responsibility in this role includes determining whether incidents, such as the recent crossbow attack in Leeds, class as acts of terrorism.

Andy Marsh, the head of the College of Policing, expressed concerns that the quality of chief officer candidates had declined to a level where temporary holders occupied about a third of chief positions at one point. He noted that recent reforms have increased the number of candidates entering the process, but significant changes will require time.

“The pool of qualified officers for senior roles was alarmingly insufficient, but these reforms are expected to significantly enhance that. I am worried about the small number of applicants for all chief officer posts,” he stated.

A senior policing figure highlighted a “lack of talent” among police leadership, attributing part of the issue to the police and crime commissioner (PCC) system, where elected officials with often limited policing experience oversee forces. The source remarked, “There are no checks and balances on their selections.”

A government insider mentioned efforts to enhance leadership training and standards, stressing, “It’s crucial to cultivate a high-quality talent pool at the top of policing.”

The chief constable position in Merseyside is filled by the PCC for the area, with an annual salary surpassing £200,000.

Carden, having spent a significant portion of his career with the Merseyside force, is expected to be officially appointed as chief constable in the coming week by the area’s police and crime panel.

Emily Spurrell, Merseyside’s PCC, commented, “Only one applicant submitted their candidacy for the chief constable position. It’s important to recognize that senior policing roles like this often attract a limited number of applicants because of their complexity, public scrutiny, and the substantial responsibilities associated with leading a high-functioning police force.

“The preferred candidate met all eligibility criteria and relevant experience and underwent a rigorous interview process. Ultimately, the integrity of the recruitment process and the candidate’s qualifications are what are most significant.”

The career paths of the current Metropolitan commissioner, Mark Rowley, and Jukes bear notable similarities. Both have previously served as chief constables, Jukes in South Wales and Rowley in Surrey. They are both viewed as reformists, with Jukes’s force being a trailblazer in the use of facial recognition technology, and each has held leadership roles in counter-terrorism while originating from the West Midlands.