GMP Community
Special recognition
SPECIAL Constables and volunteers from across Greater Manchester have been recognised for their hard work and dedication at an Awards Ceremony.
During the ceremony, held at Lancashire Cricket Club on Sunday 1 December, seven awards were handed out in total. Rochdale Division stole the show receiving the award for ‘Outstanding Team Performance’ and the coveted ‘Special Constable of the Year Award’. Tuseef Ahmed, the winner of the Special Constable of the Year Award and part of the team to receive the Team Performance Award said: “I am surprised and delighted to have been chosen. It makes up for the mornings when I have finished a shift at 7.00am having missed a night-out with friends.” In a surprise twist the ‘Student Officer of the Year’ was jointly won by Peter Francis and Gareth Roberts. The judging panel said that the standard of nominations in all categories had been particularly high this year.
51 years of service rewarded ROGER Coles has been awarded a certificate for long service upon his retirement from GMP after 51 years. He joined Lancashire Constabulary
Roger Coles accepts his certificate
in 1962 as a cadet, moving across to GMP when it was formed in 1974. Throughout his career he has worked in the Traffic Unit and at time of his retirement he was Information Compliance & Records Management Assistant. Throughout his career Roger saw a great many highlights. One of his greatest achievements was influencing the design and increased safety of children’s car seats. This was after a car accident where a twoyear-old managed to unclip themselves from their seat. The mother swerved as she attended to the child (both child and mother survived). When asked what he will miss most about GMP, he said: "Without a doubt the people I have worked with. I have made some wonderful friends throughout my career who I will keep in touch with now that I have retired." Roger will be joining the National Highways Agency on a consultancy basis as a Customer Relations Manager.
Making Irlam safer CHRISTMAS crime prevention day at Tesco in Irlam. A great day for community engagement as local Home Watch members/residents and Junior PCSOs gave up their free time to help hand out crime prevention leaflets. PCSO Mark Fitzgerald said: “It was a really good day and helps get the police out and about to help prevent crime in the area this Christmas.”
Passing the baton
Mike Walmsley (left) pictured with his predecessor Paul Whittam.
THIS month Specials Chief Officer Paul Whittam hands over to Mike Walmsley. Mike said: “I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and embedding the Special Constabulary further into Neighbourhood Policing. I will also be building on the excellent work already undertaken by previous chief officers, Paul Whittam and Bart Ganley.”
Brief Christmas 2013 Edition 19