by Paul Francis

Kent’s police chief could learn next week if he has been appointed to a new job as chief inspector for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mike Fuller is widely expected to be confirmed in the post by the Attorney General Baroness Scotland after a cross-party committee of MPs quizzed the chief constable at a meeting on Tuesday, January 12.

Members of the Justice Select Committee are expected to recommend that Mr Fuller be given the job. No other candidates are being considered but the final decision lies with the Government.

Mr Fuller, who joined Kent Police as chief constable in January 2004 from the Metropolitan Police where he was deputy assistant commissioner.

He started his career in 1975 as a cadet with the capital's force.

It is understood that Mr Fuller’s departure, if confirmed, could happen in March.

At the time of the announcement of his possible new job, he said: "I will be sorry to leave Kent but if this new position is confirmed then I can leave my post in the confident knowledge that we have made a major step forward in reducing crime and building public confidence in the police service in the county."

It is likely that the current deputy chief constable Adrian Leppard will take over on a temporary basis until a permanent appointment is made.