Met Officer, Arthur Gray, is set to retire on 31 March at the age of 72, and was handed an award for his long service and dedication to the Ealing area by Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, at a ceremony on 13 March.

Gray first started as a Special Constable, a voluntary police officer, in 1993, before moving to the role of a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), based out of Ealing police station in 2009.

The Met say in this time, he patrolled the streets of Northolt, Greenford and Harrow and was recognised for keeping the community safe.

While working as a PCSO, Arthur was nominated for a British Citizen Award by the parallel safer neighbourhood team and also recognised by the Commissioner for his great effort in delivering high standards in the Met, something Gray says he is most proud of.

Gray said: "Working for the Met as a community support officer is an unforgettable experience.

"There have been many interesting cases I've worked on in that time, from tackling a shop lifter, all the way up to murder, however the biggest joy has been working with residents.

"The clue is in the job title. It has been a privilege to support the local community and build up long-lasting relationships.

"That can be through creating a local newsletter for 2,000 people or taking time and talking to people on the street.

"By investing time in residents, you build trust, and it has made this role a joy to have."

PSCO Arthur Gray holding his British Citizen Award alongside his Met colleagues (credit: Met Police).

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said: "It was a delight to meet with Arthur and present him with his award. His service is a testament to his dedication and passion for the role.

"I wish him a long and happy retirement where he can finally hang up his boots.

"Our Police Community Support Officer's play a vital part in keeping Londoners safe.

"Officers like Arthur are invaluable to us, and are an essential tool in reducing crime and building trust."

PCSOs support Londoners in the heart of their communities says the Met Police.

They help to tackle local issues, working in either Safer Neighbourhood or Transport teams.

Both roles involve interacting with the public, gathering intelligence, and playing a 'key role' in keeping London safe. 

We want to provide Ealing with more and more clickbait-free local news. To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following. Help us survive and sign up for our free weekly newsletter by clicking the link HERE.