MMU honours UK's top Muslim policeman

BRITAIN's most senior Asian and Muslim policeman has been honoured by Manchester Metropolitan University.

Tarique Ghaffur, Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police received an honorary doctorate in laws at a ceremony at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.

Mr Ghaffur, who left school without A levels but gained a degree in public administration at MMU is respected both for his community relations work and his contribution to fighting serious and organised crime in the UK.

Bernard Leach, head of sociology at MMU whose department trains 300 police officers annually in community relations, said: "We are delighted to be honouring Tarique Ghaffur for his high profile work, his integrity, sense of justice and his professionalism.

Role model

"As the UK's most senior Asian and Muslim police officer his contribution to improve community relations has been immense. As a graduate of MMU we hope his success will provide a role model to our current criminology students and to the trainee police officers."

Tarique Ghaffur started his police career with Greater Manchester Police at the age of 16, working as both a uniform and CID officer and carrying out undercover work for the National Crime Squad. In 1978 he was promoted to Sergeant and in 1981 headed a robbery squad that oversaw a dramatic reduction in robberies in post-riot Moss Side.

He worked his way through the ranks, always improving himself and serving with distinction in Salford and Longsight before a transfer to the Leicestershire Constabulary.

In 1996 Mr Ghaffur was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable (Lancashire) and was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in February 1999, then moved to the Metropolitan Police Service as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Borough Commander of the City of Westminster in 2000.

Violent crime

In 2001, Mr Ghaffur was promoted to Assistant Commissioner and in 2002 assumed responsibility for the Specialist Crime Directorate, overseeing massive improvements in performance with a murder detection rate of 97%, large increases in drug and cash seizures as well as significant reductions in gun-enabled crime.

He has been responsible for the institution of successful programmes such as Operation Maxim (organised immigration crime) and Operation Payback (proceeds of crime), and building upon the successes of Trident (black community gun crime).

Mr Ghaffur has also overseen a number of large public enquiries, including the cases of Damilola Taylor and Victoria Climbie, and has warned of the stereotyping of Muslim communities.

Speaking at the National Black Police Officers Association in Manchester in August 2006, he identified the "significant risk that the stereotyping and stigmatisation of whole communities" could result in unnecessary criminalisation and a local sense of injustice.

Alumnus

Mr Ghaffur has a BA (Hons) in Public Administration from Manchester Metropolitan University and an MA in Criminology. He received the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in 2001 for his services to policing and in 2004, Mr Ghaffur was awarded a CBE for services to policing.

As the most senior Asian police officer in the UK, and mentor to a large number of people both within and outside the police service, Mr Ghaffur has also received high achievement awards from different communities in London which reflect his passionate commitment to improving safety and the confidence of diverse communities in policing.

He is married with two young children and has a strong interest in Asian music and sports - particularly squash - where he has won numerous awards and represented the police service at national level.

Ends

Notes: Criminology is one of the fastest growing subject areas in the university and has a high intake of black and minority ethnic students.
The heir to the Public Admin degree is the BA (Hons) Public Services based in the dept of Politics & Philosophy,

Tarique Ghaffur received his honorary doctorate during the Graduation Ceremony of the Faculty of Humanities, Law and Social Sciences, MMU on July 16.