TWO best-selling authors are considering writing a fresh chapter in the history of a controversy-hit police force – by becoming its first crime commissioner.

Former Northallerton and Stokesley policeman GP Taylor, whose novels have sold more than three million copies worldwide, and ex-rural beat officer Mike Pannett, who has written the Now Then, Lad series of stories, have both been asked to consider running for the £75,000-a-year role to oversee North Yorkshire Police.

Both authors said if they received a groundswell of support they would prefer to run as independent candidates in the election to replace the police authority, due to be held on November 15, and would seek to restore the force’s reputation following a nepotism scandal involving senior officers.

It has emerged that one of the commissioner’s first tasks will be to select a replacement to Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell – who admitted gross misconduct and leaves the post in May – after the Home Secretary last week told the police authority it could not appoint a successor.

Mr Taylor, a former rock band roadie, who was also an Anglican vicar in Cloughton, North Yorkshire, said he has received dozens of requests to stand following his regular guest slots on Radio 2, talking about policing issues, but was challenging his supporters to launch a campaign backing him.

He said: “Whoever gets the job is going to have their life pulled apart – and some people have got some very big skeletons in their cupboards.”

The 53-year-old author of the Shadowmancer said if he was elected he would scrap arrest quotas and close the force’s Newby Wiske headquarters, replacing it with two small units.

Mr Pannett, who left the force in 2007 after 20 years and also helps run a play centre in Thirsk, said while he would be reluctant to give up his writing career, he would consider it if “there is not a high enough calibre candidate”.

He said: “I am torn as my books are doing so well, but I need to do what is right. In North Yorkshire, we need somebody who understands policing in the city and in rural areas.”

Meanwhile, Carl Les, deputy leader of North Yorkshire County Council and owner of Leeming Bar services, yesterday declared his interest in standing as the Conservative candidate.

The Catterick Bridge councillor, who has served on the police authority since 1997, said he would use his business experience while working alongside communities.