West Mercia Police Federation has congratulated Chief Constable Pippa Mills on her appointment as an Assistant Commissioner with the Metropolitan Police.
Chief Constable Mills, who has led West Mercia Police since September 2021, has announced she will be leaving to return to the Force with which she began her policing career.
Branch secretary Peter Nightingale wished her success in her new role and said he hoped her successor will continue to have a positive relationship with the Federation.
He said: “I would like to congratulate our Chief Constable on being successful through a rigorous selection process to become Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police.
“The Federation has a good working relationship with the chief officer team and have regular meetings to discuss force issues.
“Our Chief has been engaging and very visible in her two years with the Force and I hope that we can continue the positive relationship with her successor.
“We wish her all the success in her new post.”
West Mercia Police’s first female boss, Chief Constable Mills joined the Force from Essex Police, where she was Deputy Chief Constable, having started her career in the Met.
She said it had been “an incredible privilege” to serve Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.
She added: “While 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.”
Chief Constable Mill’s start date with the Metropolitan Police is yet to be confirmed but Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion, will now begin a process to ensure an interim Chief Constable is identified ahead of a full selection process.
