‘I’ve no desire to do anything else’

A former Leeds inspector who has already completed a police career spanning three decades has no plans to hang up his uniform.

Graham Dyson has swapped leading teams for frontline community policing, spending the last three years patrolling Heckmondwike by bike as a dedicated PCSO.

Graham has seen massive changes in society since he first hit the beat in the era of Italia 90, flared jeans and the Happy Monday’s. But the key of community policing remained.

“I’ve no desire to do anything else or to be anywhere else,” he said. “For me, the key part of the police community support officer role is community support. That’s just what we do.

“I’ve enjoyed every role I’ve had in policing, but do love the face-to-face contact you get as a PCSO.

“There are lots of different avenues you can work in and we have a great team here who care about what we do and the policing we provide. The key part is you can take ownership and solve problems personally. That’s what I started my career doing and what residents wanted to see then, and want to see now.

“I’m back doing it, and that suits me.”

A former inspector for the Huddersfield NPT, Graham joined the force in 1990 as a special constable becoming a full time PC in 1995.

His career included periods working in Halifax and Bradford, where he worked for 13 years, rising to the rank of inspector.

A transfer to Leeds followed before Graham became the NPT inspector for Huddersfield, retiring from the role in late 2022.

During his previous time in the force, he led work to tackle community and anti-social behaviour issues, such as on Huddersfield’s Walpole Estate, and delivered lifesaving CPR on five occasions. He has also been commended for bravery and been awarded two Royal Humane Society Awards for saving lives.

Describing Heckmondwike as a great community to work, Graham said that engaging with young people in the town and breaking down barriers had been an important part of his work so far.

He said: “I was so pleased to get Heckmondwike when I came back, as I really wanted a community with a good town centre. One thing that has really been working well is the young person’s contact point at McDonalds.

“We hold one every month to give young people the chance to speak with a uniformed officer in an informal setting. McDonald’s is a place where they congregate so it is a place where we can have some really good conversations with younger children, parents and teenagers about college and their careers.

“We have had some really good successes over the years and steering young people away from trouble. It is really rewarding when you see young people have taken heed and listened.”

Graham said the role very much still had its physical challenges particularly as he had been assaulted and needed hospital treatment when detaining two youths earlier in the week.

He was able to restrain the youths with the assistance of a member of the public.

“I would like to thank the member of the public and also the staff at Dewsbury District Hospital for their assistance,” he said. “As a PCSO we are on the front line with PC colleagues and on occasion we do become involved in violent situations.

“However, tackling crime, protecting the public and reducing crime are our core roles, and I am committed to reducing crime and ASB in the area.”

A keen musician in his spare time with a history of drumming in local bands, Graham said he had no intention of giving up either music or his career in policing any time soon.

“Policing keeps me fit and healthy and it’s what I've done for 36 years so why stop now,” he said. “As long as I can keep going, and Mrs Dyson is happy for me to continue, I’m happy to be there, supporting the team, working for residents.”