A long-serving former Huddersfield police inspector is to go back on the beat – just six months after retiring from the force.

Former inspector Graham Dyson was a serving officer for 32 years and retired towards the end of 2022. But now Graham is back in training to return to the streets – as a police community support officer (PSCO).  

Graham said he couldn’t wait to get back to community policing as a PCSO and making a difference in neighbourhoods after recently joining the Batley and Spen Neighbourhood Policing Team.

“Policing has always been a dream profession for me and I’m delighted to be back and to be back as a PCSO,” he said.

“I started working with PCSOs when they were first ‘invented’ in 2003 and just loved the role, and the fact that they quickly became the main link between communities and police.”

The officer retired from the force in late 2022 after joining as a special constable in 1990 and 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 four years ago.

During his time in the force he led work to tackle community and anti-social behaviour issues, such as on Walpole Estate in Crosland Moor and delivered life-saving CPR on five occasions.

He was presented with a District Commander’s Commendation earlier this year for one instance in which he put himself at risk to provide life-saving first aid to an assault victim during a disorder incident in Huddersfield. Read more about it HERE.

Further describing his return to duty, Graham said one thing that appealed to him about his new role was the reassurance he could bring at a doorstep level, and take personal ownership of individual issues.

He said: “By working within the community PCSOs quickly become known and are therefore a point of contact for local people, being that constant identifiable presence, who can reassure people, retaining ownership of issues which then provides that much needed confidence in policing.

“The role is what I joined to do 30 years ago as a PC, being out on the beat, meeting people and being that visible presence. What my mum would have called ‘a proper copper!’”

Insp David Bates, of the Batley and Spen NPT, said: “Graham brings a wealth of experience with him and it’s been a pleasure to welcome him on board.

“PCSOs and PCs are the lifeblood of the truly local, neighbourhood policing we want to deliver and we know residents want to see and it’s great to have Graham here to help do that with us.”

Meet the amazing heroes of our community honoured in Kirklees Policing Awards 2023