Alan Graham has been nominated for this award by Inspector Terry Finn of Greater Manchester Police.
Alan is the current Chair of Droylsden Pubwatch and has been a licensee for many years.
Droylsdens Pubwatch was established in 2012 following a gangland shooting in a local pub, which ultimately led to the murder of two young female police officers in the area. Police responded strongly to the unusual circumstances by issuing a closure order for all pubs and restaurants in the area in an effort to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. To show their collective support, the area’s 30 pubs and restaurants agreed to band together to issue known criminals with lifetime bans from all licensed premises. Despite threats and violence, the pubs and pub owners have remained dedicated to the cause. Droylsden Pubwatch were recipients of the Diageo National Pubwatch Award in 2015.
Terry says:
“Alan chairs the Droylsden Pubwatch each month. This is the best attended meeting across Tameside and it would not be as successful without his drive, enthusiasm and commitment. I attend all of the meetings as the Neighbourhood Inspector and have witnessed at first hand Alan’s genuine desire to improve the scheme and to promote the ethos of Pubwatch. He is an excellent example of how these schemes should be managed and chaired. The scheme at Droylsden was created due to some significant issues that became apparent within the community. I have no doubt that Alan and the scheme has significantly contributed to the safety of the area”.
“I have worked closely with Alan over the last 12 months. I have seen him take the principles of his scheme at Droylsden and promote this across the whole of the Tameside borough. Although Pubwatch existed within Tameside Alan has provided that drive and leadership to really push the benefits of the scheme to other chairs. It has been refreshing because it has been licensee led with minimal support from the police. He has attended every scheme meeting across every ward; has personally visited dozens of pubs to promote the value of the scheme and to explain the benefits of online messaging”.
“There are now a number of successful (and growing) schemes across the borough and Alan has even begun to work on developing the scheme in Gorton, in a different borough of GMP. Alan is an excellent role model and an individual who wants to solve problems and to share “what works”. It is a pleasure to work with him”.
Chief Superintendent Caroline Ball says:
“I have known Alan for approximately two years. During this time I have found Alan to be one of the most passionate members of the community I have ever met. He is determined to do everything in his power to make Tameside a safer place to live, work and socialise and stamp out criminals that have been allowed to flourish in the past. He works very closely with the police, local authority, business communities and local people. He understands the need to work in partnership to create a momentum to stand up to those individuals intent on breaking the law and spoiling the area. He personally has the bravery and resilience to make a stand where others have not, putting the community first. He seeks out innovative ways of approaching problems and is constantly looking to spread the approach across Tameside and Manchester. He has put a lot of effort into helping Pubwatch schemes launch and develop in a number of areas of Tameside and has shared his ideas and experiences with many business colleagues. He is not afraid to challenge public services where he feels that more should be done and is a “critical friend” to the police. He does this to make a difference and make changes that have a lasting impact on the borough and the people who live here. I fully support this nomination”.
