A SHORTLIST of Britain's top cops has been drawn up to find a replacement for Michael Todd as Chief Constable of Greater Manchester.

The timetable for the appointment of a replacement for Chief Constable Michael Todd can today be revealed by the MEN.

His successor will be chosen in July and in post by autumn.

Only Chief Constables will be invited to apply for Greater Manchester Police's top job and Acting Chief Constable David Whatton will not be considered for the post.

But among those considered to be in the running for the job is Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Cheshire, who was second on a short-list for the Greater Manchester job when Mr Todd was appointed in October 2002.

Other contenders are Merseyside Chief Constable, Bernard Hogan-Howe and Meredydd Hughes, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire, both are understood to have expressed an interest in the position.

A wildcard could be Michael Fuller, Chief Constable of Kent - considered to be a rising star within the British police.

An advert for the post will be placed national newspapers later this month and only Chief Constables or Assistant Commissioners from the Metropolitan Police - and equivalent rank can apply.

The £168,000 a year post is expected to attract the interest of high profile senior officers from throughout the UK.

Being in charge of the force is regarded as the second biggest job in policing after Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

Mr Todd, who was found dead on a Welsh mountainside in March, was charismatic and during his time at GMP slashed crime.

Earlier this month it was revealed crime rates in the county had been reduced by 10 per cent in just one year.

The achievement was described as a "fitting legacy" to Mr Todd's leadership by Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson.

All applications for his job will first be scrutinized by the Home Office.

The Home Office will then tell the Police Authority which of the applicants is suitable for interview.

A final decision on who should be appointed will be made by a five-strong panel of Police Authority members.

The top job in GMP carries the added attractions of a car, free gym membership, and the chance to earn up to £25,000 a year as a performance bonus.

An inquest into Mr Todd's death is likely to be held soon and that will be followed by a report in the autumn by the Chief Constable of the West Midlands, Sir Paul Scott-Lee who has been asked by the Police Authority to investigate whether Mr Todd's private life impacted on his duties as Chief Constable.

Investigation

As part of the remit of his investigation Sir Paul will try to establish what the command team assembled around Mr Todd knew about his personal life. One of the allegations he is examining is that Mr Todd had a string of affairs with women serving in GMP.

Mr Whatton could have been tempted to apply for the job. However the Police Authority would have had to apply to the Home Office for normal protocol to be lifted as usually an officer has to have served in at least two forces at Ass Chief Constable level or above before becoming a Chief Constable.

Mr Whatton has only served in one - GMP - after joining from West Midlands where he was a Chief Supt.

The Police Authority got advice from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary who deemed that the death of Mr Todd did not warrant the "exceptional circumstances" to justify allowing Mr Whatton to apply.

It is also understood there is concern that Mr Whatton is too closely associated with Mr Todd's regime as leader. The Command Team of which he was a member could possibly be criticised in Sir Paul's report when it is published in September.

However Mr Whatton is still seen as potentially a future Chief Constable.

Councillor Paul Murphy, chairman of the Police Authority, commenting on Mr Todd's replacement said: "We need the best person available to continue reducing crime and protect the people of Greater Manchester. Charisma is one asset but so is intellectual prowess, and an ability to lead from the back to the front. Taking a risk on Mr Todd's successor is not something the public would expect me to do."

Commenting on Sir Paul's inquiry he said: "I have made it clear I do not want the press having to make Freedom of Information requests about it. It must be transparent. I do not want to wreck anyone's life - but the truth has to be out there."

He insisted the inquiry would not be a whitewash and was expected to be an in depth investigation.

Select the links on the right to read biographies of the candidates.