After several unsuccessful applications ( the East Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary in 1939 , Portsmouth City Police in 1940 , Oxford City Police in 1940 ) , in September 1941 he was selected from a short-list of six as Senior Assistant Chief Constable of Birmingham City Police , then the second-largest police force in the UK ; the salary was Â # 1,000 p.a. . After several unsuccessful applications ( the East Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary in 1939 , Portsmouth City Police in 1940 , Oxford City Police in 1940 ) , in September 1941 he was selected from a short-list of six as Senior Assistant Chief Constable of Birmingham City Police , then the second-largest police force in the UK ; the salary was Â # 1,000 p.a. His particular responsibilities - training and communications - played to his strengths .