Nick Alston, PCC, declared today that Lindsay Whitehouse is his candidate for the £55,000 a year job.

Before becoming Deputy PCC Mr Whitehouse is required to appear before the Police and Crime Panel, who will hold a confirmation hearing on Thursday May 9.

Mr Alston said “Over the past few months I have become increasingly sure that I need a Deputy to help me carry out effective scrutiny of Essex Police and to drive community crime reduction work across Essex.

“In keeping with my desire to be open and transparent and uphold the highest integrity that this office requires, I openly advertised the position and I attached no party political requirements.

“I was very pleased to receive a number of applications and held two rounds of interviews of selected candidates with a panel of assessors.

“Mr Whitehouse possesses considerable practical expertise both in the criminal justice sphere and in managing large budgets efficiently and effectively.”

Mr Whitehouse is currently Deputy Governor of HM Prison Chelmsford, and is chair of the Essex Criminal Justice Board Public Confidence Action Team.

During the past five years, savings of 18 per cent have been delivered in HMP Chelmsford.

Mr Whitehouse said “I am pleased and honoured to have been selected by Mr Alston after a rigorous and tough competition for the post.

“I am encouraged by the potential that this new role has in bringing real scrutiny to the performance and finances of our police service and crime prevention schemes. M

“y experience in public and private service has given me wide experience of dealing with new and difficult challenges.

“I approach the role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner with an aspiration to make Essex safer for us all and uphold the highest levels of integrity that the Commissioner has set.

“I also bring a determination to promote the interests of victims of crime and to support victims in any way that I can.”