Wiltshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills has retired after more than three decades in policing, bringing to a close a career marked by some of the most high-profile incidents in recent British policing history.
DCC Mills officially stepped down today following 32 years of service, including eight years as Deputy Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police.
His appointment to the role in March 2018 coincided with one of the force’s most challenging periods, arriving just as the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury unfolded.
He went on to play a central role in the response to both the Salisbury and Amesbury incidents, chairing the Strategic Coordination Group and overseeing a major multi-agency operation involving 26 partner organisations.
His leadership during the response later saw him awarded the Queen’s Police Medal at Windsor Castle.
DCC Mills began his policing career with Northamptonshire Police before transferring to Wiltshire in 2007 as Chief Inspector with responsibility for neighbourhood policing.
He later became Head of Professional Standards before progressing to Chief Superintendent overseeing local policing operations across the county.
In 2014 he was appointed Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for crime and justice, while also taking on national policing roles through secondments to HMICFRS and the Home Office.
He also served as the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for harassment and stalking.
Alongside the Novichok response, DCC Mills led Wiltshire Police through the COVID-19 pandemic and was involved in several major organisational reforms and operational initiatives during his time in senior leadership.
More recently he acted as the Wiltshire Police corporate witness and national policing lead connected to The Dawn Sturgess Inquiry before undertaking a secondment with Thames Valley Police.
Chief Constable Catherine Roper paid tribute to his service and leadership.
“Paul’s priority has always been delivering the best possible policing service,” she said.
“His career has been defined by his calm professionalism, and he has navigated some of the most significant moments in recent policing history.
“His experience and judgement is recognised throughout policing, and I would like to thank him for his dedication to all the communities he has served.
“I wish him the very best upon his retirement from Wiltshire Police.”
