The Northern Ireland policing board today short-listed three candidates to be the next police chief.
Two of those in the running are senior officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Assistant Chief Constable for Belfast Mr Alan McQuillan and Assistant Chief Constable Crime Mr Chris Albiston, the Policing Board confirmed.
The third is Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mr Hugh Orde.
As ACC Belfast, Mr McQuillan has been in control of the difficult policing of the constant sectarian strife in north Belfast. Mr Albiston has recently returned to Northern Ireland after leading the policing operations in Kosovo.
Mr Orde is currently heading the Stevens Inquiry into allegations that the security forces colluded with loyalists in the murder of Belfast solicitor Patrick Finucane.
The Board revealed for the first time that there had been five applications.
One candidate, Co Fermanagh-born ms Maria Wallis, currently the Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex, withdrew yesterday following her appointment as Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, said the spokesman.
A fifth candidate, from the United States, was eliminated by the Board today.
Interviews to select the successor to Sir Ronnie Flanagan, who retired as Chief Constable at the end of March, will take place in June.
The appointment of the successful candidate will be for a fixed term of not less than four years, at a salary of between £122,556 and £131,718 sterling.
Mr Colin Cramphorn, the PSNI deputy chief constable who is currently Acting Chief Constable, did not apply for the job. He said he was not the person the Board was looking for.
PA