Sussex Police Authority was today expected to decide who the county's new chief constable will be.

An interview panel was planning to announce late this afternoon who would take over from Paul Whitehouse.

Mr Whitehouse took early retirement this year in the light of criticism over a bungled 1999 operation in which an unarmed man was shot dead by police.

James Ashley was naked when he was killed at his flat in Hastings, in front of his girlfriend.

Mr Whitehouse left the force following a letter from Home Secretary David Blunkett inviting the police authority to dismiss the chief constable.

Today, on the second and last day of interviews for his replacement, the police authority panel was to make a decision from six candidates out of a shortlist of 12.

Since September, Acting Chief Constable Maria Wallis has been running the force.