Dave Turtle On His New Role As Faith Officer For The Borough

Former Chiswick sergeant has a new challenge, building bridges between faiths

Dave off-duty, pictured with Jeremy Vine of BBC

Dear Chiswick W4 website readers, it has been a while since I composed a bulletin. Since being moved to Hounslow Police Station, I have managed Hounslow Heath Ward and around 6 weeks ago, I have been appointed as the Community Engagement and Faith Officer for Hounslow Borough.

As you can imagine with the tragic events in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge, Finsbury Park, my efforts have been targeted on building community cohesion with all the faith groups.

I have set up a new Faith Consultative Group with Hounslow Friends of Faith and over 30 faith leaders attended the Alice Way Gurdwara. Dialogue between faiths is really important. I attended a Hounslow Walk of Faith and Peace with the Deputy Mayor on Saturday where we visited the Russian Orthodox Church, Buddhist Temple and Christ Church Turnham Green.

In May, I had the privilege of meeting His Holiness, Tawadros the 2nd, the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church. His visit to Hounslow was part of a national schedule of events. The Coptic Church has faced persecution in Egypt recently with attacks on churches during Easter.

I also took part in a Carer's Day on 15th June organised by the Manager of Chiswick Sainsbury's in Essex Place as part of Carer's Week. I shared how difficult being a carer can be as I have a teenage son with epilepsy and learning difficuties. Members of the Clinical Consultative Group shared how they can help with care packages. Sainsbury's have hosted two of these events now in the last two years and this is a credit to them engaging with local residents.

Over the coming months I hope to visit more community groups and encourage our officers to be more visible on their Wards so you can share any concerns you have with them.

On a off duty note, I visited Chelsea Flower Show this year and finally caught up with one of our well known residents, BBC presenter, Jeremy Vine and his wife, as I viewed his garden. It just goes to show you can bump into Chiswick residents anywhere !

Sergeant Dave Turtle

July 5, 2017