ESSEX'S top cop is among a number of candidates who could be set to become Britain's most senior police officer.

Stephen Kavanagh became Chief Constable of Essex Police in 2013 after a long and varied career at Scotland Yard.

During his time, he worked in homicide, counter-terrorism and anti-corruption.

He also helped write national hate crime guidelines after the inquiry into the racist murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence.

He joins a shortlist to become Met Police Commissioner which is widely accepted to include Mark Rowley, the assistant commissioner in specialist operations at the Met, Chairwoman of the National Police Chiefs' Council Sara Thornton and Cressida Dick, now a director-general at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Current Scotland Yard boss, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who earned £278,563 per year, will retire in February - seven months before the end of his current contract.

Chief Constable Kavanagh had promised to stay at the Essex force for four years, which will be up in March next year.

The post is considered the most senior in Britain because of the national responsibilities of the Met, which include counter-terrorism.

Applicants must either be a serving UK chief constable or have had recent experience in the role.

Officers of specified ranks from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States can also apply.

The deadline is midday on January 4.