SUSSEX Police’s first ever direct-entry superintendent has quit before starting the job.

Former Army Commander John Lacken was due to start on November 10 but has withdrawn for “personal reasons”, the force said.

The Afghanistan veteran had been recruited under the new direct-entry scheme, in which professionals from other fields can join the police at the high-ranking management role, rather than having to start from the bottom.

Sussex Police said it did not plan to recruit a replacement candidate this year, with Mr Lacken the only one of four direct-entry candidates to pass the demanding College of Policing selection process.

Chief Constable Giles York said: “It is unfortunate that our excellent candidate has withdrawn for personal reasons and I wish him all the very best.

“He would have brought fresh perspectives to support us as we move forward and meet new challenges.

“I remain supportive of the direct-entry scheme and will be working with the College of Policing to consider our options for 2016.

“I do believe that both these schemes offer great benefits and long term will enable us to develop our own people and fundamentally give us an opportunity to be open, to challenge and question how we do things.”

Mr Lacken, working as an operations officer for Amazon at the time of his recruitment to Sussex Police, could not be reached for comment.

Superintendents are in the top 1% of officers in terms if rank, and set standards, strategy and operational policy.

Sussex Police is also running a programme to fast-track police constables to inspectors within three years, part of the same drive as direct-entry to promote new talent.

Mr Lacken’s LinkedIn profile shows his service in Afghanistan included commanding a squadron in Helmand Province.