Thames Valley chief constable recruitment starts

Sara Thornton will head the body which is replacing the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo)

A recruitment campaign has started to find the new chief constable of Thames Valley Police.

Sara Thornton will leave the post "with a "heavy heart" at the end of March after 14 years.

She is leaving to become the chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), a newly-created association representing senior police officers.

Applicants have until 2 March to apply for the Thames Valley post, with interviews on 11 March.

The force's police and crime commissioner Anthony Stansfeld will present his preferred candidate to a police and crime panel on 27 March.

Ms Thornton will head the NPCC which is replacing the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo).

Starting in April 2015, she will effectively replace Sir Hugh Orde, who is standing down as president of Acpo.

The NPCC, which will co-ordinate operational policing at national levels, is being set up after an independent review, led by retired general Sir Nick Parker, which recommended an overhaul of Acpo.