Top appointment made for fire and police in Essex

Phillipa Brent-Isherwood (Pippa) was confirmed in the role by members of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel following a recruitment process held last month.

She will join from the London Borough of Havering, where she is the assistant director of Policy, Performance and Community, and has previously worked at Basildon Borough Council.

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Pippa has extensive experience of working in partnership with various agencies to create better outcomes for residents and this will only be of benefit to the people of Essex. She will help me deliver the vision in the Police, Fire and Crime Plan which is that safe and secure communities are the bedrock on which we build success and wellbeing for all.”

Pippa said: “We all know that community safety is amongst the highest priorities of Essex residents and, as such, it is an honour and a privilege to have been offered the post of Chief Executive of the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex.

“I’m equally delighted to be returning to my home county, which is already at the cutting edge of governance in this area, and where I know the scale of opportunity is matched only by its ambition. I very much look forward to joining the team and working in partnership with colleagues in the fire service, police and across the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver our shared objective of delivering safe and secure communities, where people can thrive, across Essex.”

Councillor Wendy Schmitt, chairman of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel, said: “We are really pleased to appoint Ms Pippa Brent-Isherwood and look forward to working with her in her role as Chief Executive of the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. It is clear she has ambition, drive and will make a big difference, doing all she can to bring people together to make our communities safer.”

She will officially start her new role on September 10.