Former Assistant Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner reveals all about new book
Former Police and Crime Commissioner and Assistant chief Constable, John Dwyer was in Alsager to talk about his new book.
Rave reviews and a five-star rating on Amazon have contributed to a flying start for a retired Cheshire Police officer turned author, who hosted a book signing at Alsager library today (Monday).
'Plodding To The Top – The Journey From Police Constable To Police And Crime Commissioner' has been written by John Dwyer, also a detective, pilot, amateur ventriloquist, after dinner speaker and business consultant.
And he revealed at today's book signing that he's in the process of writing the crime thriller 'Armed Peace'.
Cheshire resident, John, talked about his life as a police officer and he had campaigned to increase the number of officers in the county which had decreased from 2,156 to 2,000.
During his time in the service, John organised police teams dealing with serious criminals, race riots, motor prix safety, police aviation and the ultra-violent miners' strike of the mid 1980s, an emotive as well as dangerous time for a miner's son.
The book takes readers inside the world of policing, seen factually through the eyes of one of the service's great innovators.
Starting as a trainee constable on the beat in his home town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, John moved on promotion to the West Midlands, where he set up an aviation unit, and ended up in Cheshire, rising to the rank of Assistant Chief Constable.
One of many fascinating insights reveals the previously untold story of how John was a key player in helping Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and Home Secretary, Jack Straw, end the fuel price protests crisis of 2000.
The Farmers For Action Group had chosen Stanlow Oil Refinery in Ellesmere Port, situated on the south bank of the Manchester Ship Canal, for their first demonstration.
This was quickly followed by other protests across the country forcing garage forecourts to run out of fuel with a consequent threat to emergency services.
John was also instrumental in changing the DVLA stance regarding motor vehicle write-offs.
There's plenty of humour. For instance, John once not only arrested a hiding burglar but also saved his life: he discovered this rather dim criminal lying low in a freezer, the lid of which had locked shut.
The non-stop action of John's career - he survived instances of life-threatening violence - began after quitting accountancy against his family's wishes. They forecast unanimously he would not last six months as a police officer.
Over three decades later the same man was praised in parliament by another Home Secretary, Theresa May, for his excellent work as Cheshire's first Police and Crime Commissioner, shortly before she became Prime Minister in 2016.
The tour continues in Knutsford and Wilmslow libraries.
Thurs July 10: Knutsford Library (2.30pm)
Thursday Sept 18: Wilmslow Library
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