By Katy Pearson

katy.pearson@newsquest.co.uk

Essex Police's Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills, 44, was recently name one of Essex's 50 most inspiring women in business. Here she chats early ambitions and working her way up the ranks...

TWENTY two years ago, Pippa Mills joined the police force while she decided what career she wanted to pursue - today she is one of the most senior officers in the county.

"If the Chief Constable is the equivalent of the Chief Executive of Essex Police, as the Deputy Chief Constable I’m the equivalent of the Chief Operating Officer," she explains.

"I’m responsible for the efficiency of the organisation which in policing is complicated as it’s a 24/7/365 operational environment.

"My key roles involve overseeing our extensive change programme, including technology enabled and estates change, the overall performance of the force and acting as the appropriate authority for standards and professionalism."

Indeed DCC is the second highest rank in all territorial police forces (except the Metropolitan Police) and it's only in recent years that such high office has been held by a woman at all.

DCC Pippa Mills began her career with the Met Police in 1996 (though she was born and bred in Essex) and as a constable she was based in Westminster, both on the response team and within CID. She worked her way up the ranks, took a three-year career break while her two sons were young, and was promoted to Inspector in 2007, serving Hackney and Waltham.

As a Superintendent she was part of the command teams for the royal wedding, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and held the role of Bronze Reserves during the London Olympics.

Promoted to Chief Superintendent in 2014, she eventually joined Essex Police in 2017 as Assistant Chief Constable. She replaced DCC Matt Horne in January.

It's a career that's more than a little full-on, especially when you throw being a mum to two teenage boys into the mix as well.

So what does her typical work day look like?

"I tend to get to work early to get ahead of the day," she says. "I’ll review the operational incidents that have occurred overnight and any wider implications of those. My diary as DCC is very full with governance meetings, both internally and with partners, but I try to get out and about across the force wherever possible. It’s really important for me to stay connected to the frontline to understand their challenges and the impact of the decisions we make."

What’s the toughest bit about her job?

"Time management," she states. "I have so many varied responsibilities I have to stay organised. I have a great staff officer and PA supporting me so it’s a team effort."

And the best bit?

"The people I get to work with every day are amazing. Whether officer, staff, special or volunteer, they go above and beyond to keep the county safe."

Did she always want to be a policewoman, you can't help but wonder?

"I wanted to be an Army Doctor, but my maths and science skills weren’t quite where they would have needed to be," she confesses.

"I had considered a career in the military throughout university, but changed my mind. I saw what a great career my Dad has had as a police officer and decided to join the police while I decided what I wanted to do. And 22 years later and I’m still here!

"Mind you, I actually applied for the Apprentice and got through the first stages, but was starting a new role as a Chief Inspector the day of the live auditions. Who knows what might have happened!"

It's an extremely illustrious career she's build, one Lord Sugar himself would have to admire, so it's difficult to imagine that she has any regrets. But it turns out she does have one...

"It can never happen now," she smiles. "But I do wish I’d been a dog handler at some point."