THE hunt has begun for the candidate who will fill the shoes of the county’s top cop.

An advert for the £141,000 a-year post of Chief Constable of Essex Police has officially gone live on the recruitment page of the force’s website.

Candidates, who fancy the job, have until Friday, June 12, to apply. Assessments take place in July.

The vacancy follows the shock announcement in March when Chief Constable Roger Baker announced he would retire a year early, stepping down in July.

The tough-talking 50-year-old, who joined the force in a storm of publicity in July 2005, said he was quitting for “personal reasons”.

The job description for the coveted post says the force is looking for someone to “provide an effective, efficient, visible police service” and someone to support the police authority in “achieving its priorities”.

In a breakdown of skills required, the police authority said it is looking for someone: open to change; to improve the force’s performance; to focus on meeting the needs of the community; and who is reliable in a crisis and takes responsibility when things go wrong.

It is expected the new Chief Constable could be in post by December.

In the meantime Deputy Chief Constable Andy Bliss will take over the role temporarily from July until December.