County's top man in running for role

Staffordshire's top police officer is in the running to take the helm of West Midlands Police, the Express & Star can today reveal.

Chris Sims, the Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, has applied for the £160,000-a-year job at the neighbouring regional force.

The 49-year-old, who has only been Staffordshire's chief since September 2007, this week declined to comment publicly on the move.

However, a force spokesman said: "We understand that Mr Sims is a potential candidate."

Chief Constable Sims recently attracted national interest with his calls for a return to 'common sense' policing and Staffordshire Police's involvement in a pilot project to test out a reduction in red tape for officers.

He has worked for West Midlands Police before – serving as Deputy Chief Constable for three years – and was previously both a detective and a divisional commander with Staffordshire Police.

If successful in his application, the policing policy expert would replace outgoing West Midlands boss Sir Paul Scott-Lee. Sir Paul, who has himself been named in a shortlist of candidates to be Metropolitan Police Commissioner, announced he was standing down at the end of October.

His last day with West Midlands will be on April 30.

Sir Paul worked in the Kent and Suffolk forces before becoming West Midlands Chief Constable in 2002.

Announcing he would not be renewing his contract in October, Sir Paul said he felt the time was right for someone else to take over at the helm.