West Mercia chief constable returning to MPS as assistant commissioner

Ms Mills, who has the led the West Mercia force since September 2021, began her policing career in the MPS in 1996.

She joined West Mercia Police from Essex Police, where she was deputy chief constable.

The MPS said Matt Twist, who has been serving as T/assistant commissioner for operations, has also been appointed on a permanent basis.

MPS Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “I’m delighted to confirm these two well-deserved and critical appointments within our senior team.

“Since stepping into his temporary position, Matt has provided fantastic leadership and brought energy, vision and commitment to helping us reform the Met to be a service London can be proud of.

“His breadth of experience across policing and his understanding of London and its communities are pivotal in helping deliver a more efficient, intelligent and effective police service.

“Matt will work closely alongside Pippa who will re-join the Met in the coming months.

“I am thrilled to be welcoming her back to the force. She brings invaluable experience, particularly from her time as a chief constable, she truly understands the importance of putting communities at the centre of policing and will play a pivotal role in helping us deliver a radically new Met for London.”

During her time at West Mercia Police, Ms Mills has had a “hugely positive impact” – with the number of officers reaching nearly 2,500, more than in the force’s history, a reduction in crime meaning fewer victims and an increase in criminals being brought to justice.

She said: “It has been an incredible privilege to serve the communities of the three beautiful counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

“Whilst I am, of course, pleased with the opportunity it is bittersweet as I am leaving an incredible force, made of up of officers, staff and volunteers that are passionate and dedicated to delivering a quality policing service and protecting people from harm.

“In my two years here the police service nationally has faced some of the biggest ever challenges and that’s why I’m particularly proud that we have maintained high levels of public confidence levels in the force.

“During my time here I have been committed to ensuring we listen to the needs of our communities, that you know who your local policing teams are and that you have genuine trust and confidence in them and in the wider force. We have made strides forward and I know this work will continue.

“The local communities, and my colleagues here in West Mercia, can be certain that the force will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Ms Mills added: “It is an honour to return to serving the people of London. I look forward to working with the Commissioner and colleagues across the Met to deliver the high-quality police service that communities want and deserve.”

A start date for her new position in London is yet to be confirmed but West Mercia police and crime commissioner John Campion said he will now begin a process to ensure an interim chief constable is identified ahead of a full selection process.

Ms Mills began her career at the MPS as a constable and was based in Westminster, both on response team and within the CID.

Following a three-year career break when her sons were young, she was promoted to sergeant in 2004 and worked on response team in Redbridge in East London.

She was selected for the High Potential Development Scheme and was promoted to inspector in 2007, serving at both Hackney and Waltham Forest in a variety of roles.

Following promotion to chief inspector at Hackney where she led the Operations portfolio and Criminal Justice, she became a public order commander.

As a superintendent she was part of the command teams for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Promoted to chief superintendent in 2014, Ms Mills oversaw significant change within the MPS’s command and control function, introducing new ways of working that improved the service offered to the public.

She was T/commander responsible for MPS Covert Policing and Intelligence before joining Essex Police in May 2017 as the assistant chief constable.

Ms was promoted to deputy chief constable in February 2019, overseeing the uplift of more than 500 officers into the force, the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and significant increases in public confidence in Essex Police before joining West Mercia Police.

Mr Twist said he was thrilled to have been permanently appointed into the “challenging and immensely rewarding role” of assistant commissioner.

He said: “I am looking to the future of the Met and policing of London with optimism, as we continue to deliver a better service for the public and develop smarter, more efficient ways of tackling the most dangerous and harmful offenders, ensuring less crime and that we earn the trust of our communities.”

Mr Twist joined the MPS in 1996 as a police constable assigned to Kensington and Chelsea. He has spent the vast majority of his service in operational roles including emergency response, Special Branch and firearms.

He served at Surrey Police for three years as a chief superintendent between 2013 and 2016 in roles including head of investigations, divisional commander and T/assistant chief constable.

He returned to the MPS in May 2016 as commander for firearms and the Taskforce. He was promoted to deputy assistant commissioner in April 2018 and has performed a number of important roles, including serving as the MPS’s Gold commander for the response to Covid-19.

He has been T/assistant commissioner for MPS operations since September 2022.