THE race for the top police job in Merseyside has been whittled down to three candidates.

The applicants have given a presentation to police chiefs and are set to attend a second interview in the forthcoming weeks.

One of the favourites is Northumbria’s current Deputy Chief Constable Sue Sim, who has served almost two decades with Merseyside Police.

Mrs Sim was a former South Sefton Area Commander who moved to the north-east force in 2004.

Another candidate with a strong chance is Jon Murphy, who left his post as Merseyside Deputy Chief Constable in 2007 to head up a special Home Office task force.

He is currently co-ordinator of the National Serious and Organised Crime squad, which aims to reduce gang-related crime on the UK’s streets.

Mr Murphy joined Merseyside Police in 1976 and served most of his 31 years as a detective.

He would be a popular appointment among the force’s rank and file where he was know as a “copper’s copper”.

The third candidate is David Griffin, Deputy Chief Constable of Humberside Police, who joined the force in September, 2005.

In March, 2001, he took the post of Assistant Chief Constable in Cheshire, assuming responsibility for territorial policing before moving on to lead the Specialist Crime and Operational Support functions two years later.