When Ian Arundale took charge of Dyfed-Powys Police this month he declared himself privileged and delighted. “I have fulfilled a lifelong ambition to lead a constabulary,” he said.

It would seem, however, that not all senior police officers are similarly ambitious. The policeman's lot, they will readily tell you, is not a happy one, and chief constables can grumble just as well as the rank-and-file about pay, pressure and politicians.

There remains a great deal of kudos in being a chief constable, especially in the shires where the title guarantees entry to the local Establishment.

Even in small forces the demands on the individual can be enormous. There are about 150 government objectives to be met, life-and-death decisions to be taken, relentless media scrutiny and the fear that your misjudgments will be magnified years later by a public inquiry.

The rewards, relatively speaking, are not that great. Last year, the basic pay of the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire was £117,000, while the chief executive of the county council made at least £168,000.

The kind of people who become chiefs are not usually in it for the money. For those who might have the talent to be chiefs, however, there is a huge financial incentive to walk away from “the Job”.

The police pension scheme offers a generous final-salary package after 30 years' service. For many, that means “retirement” in their late 40s or early 50s and the chance of a lucrative second career.

The key issue is to develop and retain the next generation of chief constables. There is no guarantee that a Green Paper from the Home Office will provide the right answers.

Times Recommends

• Time-worn Freddie gives up Test matches
• Brighton company 'involved in cyber attack'
• The art of survival: it’s all in the mind