About the director of the national centre for violence against women and girls and public protection (NCVPP).
Director of the NCVPP, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap took responsibility for the national portfolio for violence against women and girls (VAWG) in June 2025. You can find out more about her priorities on the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) website.
She is also director of the national centre for violence against women and girls and public protection (NCVPP).
She has served as a Metropolitan Police Officer for more than two decades, joining in 1997.
Career highlights
Helen started her service in Newham, where she specialised in supporting victims of sexual and domestic abuse.
She has worked in detective and uniformed leadership roles across London, including as:
- Borough Commander in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
- Borough Commander in Haringey
- first BCU Commander for Enfield and Haringey boroughs
- Commander for Learning and Development
- Commander for Protection (with responsibility for Royalty and Specialist Protection and Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection)
In 2023, Helen became Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Local Policing and the Met's lead for tackling violence against women and girls.
Her recent responsibilities included trust and legitimacy, and delivering culture reform. She believes success in these areas is critical to policing's role in protecting the public.
Recognition
Helen was awarded a King's Policing Medal for distinguished service. This recognised her work overseeing:
- protective security operations during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
- funerals of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II
- the Met's response to tackling violence against women and girls
The challenge with VAWG offences is the sheer scale and complexity of the crimes. But if we were able to identify patterns of behaviour early, interventions can also take place way before the police are involved, stopping future perpetrators and preventing new victims. The whole system needs to step into this threat, and it starts early. Policing has a unique role, and we are up for the challenge, but we are only one part of a wider system that must play their part.
The work we have done over the last few years has been steadily creating a new culture in policing where I truly believe the focus required is not in doubt. What I want, is to show the public that progress is happening and for them to be confident that it is happening everywhere.”
Director of the NCVPP, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap