News

Faith part of his policing


28/ 6/2004

THE FIRST Asian Community Support Officer (CSO) in Oldham is using his Muslim faith and multi-lingual skills to build bridges between the local community and the police.
CSO Irfan Jaffri is part of the Oldham Reassurance Project Team which aims to tackle low level crime and improve community spirit. He is now a familiar face in Glodwick and the surrounding area and hopes he has become a positive role model for young Asian people.
He patrols on foot, by car or more often than not by bike. The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Michael Todd has taken an interest in Ifran's work and recently joined him on a cycle patrol through the district.
Irfan, who is a devout Muslim, said: "My faith is very much part of the way I carry out my policing. I have visited molanas who run the local mosques and I take part in Friday prayers. I would like to think I have built up a sense of trust in the community.
"My culture and religion frowns upon the types of anti-social behaviour I am trying to eradicate. I look out for all the community whether they are young or elderly, Asian or white.
"Attending Friday prayers has been a good way to build up relations with elders in the Muslim community. Sometimes they tell me about problems they are having with their children and ask me to come round and give some firm guidance."
The 29-year-old married father-of-one lives in Crumpsall and is also studying law at Tameside college. He comes from the Peshawer region of Pakistan and came to live in this country six years ago. He speaks six languages which has been a great help working amongst a diverse community. They are English, Urdu, Punjabi, Pushto, Persian and Hindi.
Irfan added: "Having so many languages is a good tool in my job. It makes me more available to all ethnic groups."
Irfan's beat is a large one and he also covers Clarksfield, Higginshaw and the Roundthorn area.
Irfan hopes to persuade more Asians to join the police and is already having some success.
He said: "A young man called Tuqeer Ahmed asked me about joining and is now a PCSO alongside me. Other Asian youngsters have also expressed an interest in joining the police. I would certainly recommend it. Greater Manchester Police have been very good to me and have been very flexible in giving me time to do my studies."
"I really love my work and feel I am fulfiling a useful role in society. People have always told me I am a good listener and I have always believed if I can help with anyone's troubles I should do my best for them."
Another important aspect of Irfan's work are his weekly advice sessions in which the local community can have access to him and talk over their troubles or concerns. He said: "These have become more and more popular and we would like as many people as possible to attend."
They were previously held at the Pakistani Community Centre but are now being held at the Bangladeshi Community Centre at 54 Nugget Street. As part of the Reassurance Project, Irfan was heavily involved in sports sessions at the Pakistani Community Centre on Marlborough Street, where young people could play football and table tennis. Irfan said: "Those sessions provided people with something to do in the evenings and brought the community together. Unfortunately they have now come to an end but we hope to start them again soon."
n For more information on becoming a PCSO call 0161 8725050 or log onto www.gmp recruitment.co.uk


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