NORTH Yorkshire’s new police and crime commissioner is looking for help in appointing the new head of the county’s police force.

Julia Mulligan – who has the power to hire and fire chief constables – has vowed her top priority will be finding a new chief for North Yorkshire Police.

Tim Madgwick, former deputy chief constable, temporarily took over from Grahame Maxwell in May, but a permanent appointment has yet to be made.

Mrs Mulligan has said she wants to be advised by a number of people experienced in recruitment and selection procedures for senior professionals.

Particularly, she said she wanted to be joined by someone independent of the police or politics, whose role would be to “ensure the appointment process is conducted in line with the principles of merit, fairness and openness”.

“I am keen to make this crucial appointment before the end of March 2013.

“I will be looking to the chief constable – who has overall operational command of North Yorkshire Police – to deliver the majority of my Police And Crime Plan for this area.”

Interested applicants for the recruitment role should submit a CV and a short statement setting out their experience in the recruitment and selection of senior posts.

These should be sent by email to info@northyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk marked “Private and confidential – independent assessor.

“It is a legal requirement that the independent panel member should not be a PCC, a member of the PCC’s staff, a member of the Police and Crime Panel, an MP, a Member of the European Parliament, a local councillor, a serving or retired police officer or member of police staff, a civil servant, a member of the National Assembly for Wales, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, a member of the Scottish Government, an employee of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, an employee of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, or an employee of the College of Policing.”

The closing date for expressions of interest is December 10. The successful applicant will be appointed later that week.