Julie Spence has already expressed a tentative interest in replacing Sir Ian Blair as commissioner of the Metropolitan police, and has has been mulling over the prospect of submitting an application during a two-week holiday.

The deadline to replace Sir Ian, who departed from his role as head of Scotland Yard in controversial circumstances in October, expires today, and a number of high ranking officers from around the country have already declared their desire to be considered for the job.

But if Mrs Spence were to be chosen to make the step up from managing Cambridgeshire's 1,400 officers, she would make history as the first woman to take charge of the 31,000-strong Met.

Last month, the 53-year-old said she was giving serious consideration to applying for the job.

"I will look at the application and see," she said. "This is an opportunity, and you just have to sit and take stock and say, should I? Do I want to do it?"

She added: "It would be good to see a woman (in the job], but it has to be the right one. I think I've still got a lot to offer policing. I've passed my 30 years and I could actually retire, but I have no intention of doing so.

"I still love the job and I still want to develop people and develop organisations."

Mrs Spence, who lives in Cambridge, has a record of breaking down gender barriers during her career.

When she joined Avon & Somerset police in 1978, she was the first married woman on the force and she became the first female Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire police when she replaced Tom Lloyd in 2005.

If she does apply for the job of Met Commissioner, she will not be the only woman putting her name forward, however, with Jane Stichbury, an HM Inspector of Constabulary and former Dorset Chief Constable, also expressing an interest in the position.

Sir Hugh Orde, Northern Ireland's chief of police and Sir Paul Stephenson, who takes over as Acting Commissioner at Scotland Yard today, have also applied.

Sir Ian Blair announced his resignation from the job in October after apparently coming under pressure to quit from London mayor Boris Johnson.

At the time, Mrs Spence publicly condemned the interference of politicians with policing, which she said should remain totally independent from political involvement.

"The police service needs to be open to proper scrutiny – not politically managed," she said.