The North's Policing Board was meeting today to shortlist candidates for the second-most senior post in the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Six candidates from the North and England are believed to have applied for the £100,000-a-year post as deputy to chief constable Mr Hugh Orde.
Mrs Julie Spence, an assistant chief constable with Thames Valley Constabulary; Mr Paul Leighton, who served in the old Royal Ulster Constabulary before switching to Northumbria; and another top officer with an English-based force are believed to be in the running.
Three senior Police Service of Northern Ireland officers are also among the applicants: Mr Alan McQuillan, Mr Stephen White and Mr Sam Kinkaid.
The shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview at the end of January.
Mr Alex Attwood, an SDLP member of the policing board, said: "There is a very strong field of candidates coming from a range of policing backgrounds. They are of high calibre and appear to be highly motivated police officers".