Questions have been raised about tensions between female chief constables and male PCCs. Three who have left are, from left, Suzette Davenport, Justine Curran and Carmel Napier, seen with Martin Surl, Keith Hunter and Ian Johnston

The loss of several female chief constables has raised sexism concerns and allegations of operational interference by the elected police and crime commissioners who oversee them, The Times has learnt.

The number of women in the top police jobs in England and Wales has halved since 2014, causing alarm in the senior ranks about the “worrying message” their departures send.

The disproportionate number of female chief constables who have been forced to retire or have left the service early when they are working with an elected police and crime commissioner (PCCs) who happens to be a male former police officer has been noted.

The Times understands that the National Police Chiefs’ Council is conducting exit interviews with every chief constable who has left the service