BRITAIN’S highest-ranking female police officer is under investigation over bullying allegations.
Met assistant commissioner Pippa Mills, pictured above, has been accused of overbearing conduct by a member of staff on her team.
The internal inquiry is focusing on alleged breaches of “authority, respect and courtesy” as well as “discreditable conduct”.
Ms Mills was recruited two years ago by Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to rebuild trust in the force following the murder of Sarah Everard by a firearms officer.
It is not the first time she has been the subject of bullying claims.
Last year a member of her staff made a complaint, with Ms Mills, 51, understood to have been advised about her conduct.
A source said: “The Met are dealing with this one with the utmost seriousness.
“It is vital for the integrity of the organisation that this inquiry is dealt with robustly and thoroughly.”
Ms Mills has been temporarily posted to a non-operational role pending the outcome of the probe, conducted by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.
The mum of two was put in charge of the “More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards” mission in 2023.
She oversaw a newly founded “Trust and Legitimacy” team before moving to head the Met Operations command last year.
Her remit includes firearms, traffic units, intelligence gathering, covert work, public order planning and forensics as well as mounted, dogs and marine sections.
Ms Mills, who started at the Met in 1996, become West Mercia’s first female chief constable in 2021.
A Met spokesman confirmed the investigation. He added: “We expect all officers to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and we take allegations extremely seriously and treat all parties fairly.”