Reporter Alison Rennie speaks to Superintendent Alistair Finlay
THERE is a new man in charge at Baird Street Police Station - and he is looking forward to the challenge.
Superintendent Alistair Finlay (43), has been in the post for a month and although he is still finding his feet and getting to know everyone, he has a clear idea of the challenges facing the police in the area.
He told the Herald: "I was delighted when I found out I was moving to Baird Street.
"It is somewhere I haven't worked before and I was interested in getting to know a new place.
"The north of Glasgow is also an area which has a number of policing challenges and it is interesting because of the diversity of the population."
Superintendent Finlay joined Strathclyde Police Force in 1982 and has worked in the south side of Glasgow and North Lanarkshire.
He also spent some time at force headquarters.
But he wasn't always destined to be one of the boys in blue.
Superintendent Finlay was on a management training course at Marks and Spencer when he made up his mind to join the police.
He explained: "I always had a notion of the police being something I'd like to do.
"One of the key drivers in that was that I realised it didn't really matter if the shop didn't open on time or if it didn't make money in the great scheme of things.
"For various reasons I wanted to do something I felt had some value. Joining the police force offered me that.
"Policing is one of those things it is easy to knock, but the criminal justice service is something I am still very proud to be a part of."
Superintendent Finlay says there more challenges facing the police now than there were in 1982.
He said: "The force is a lot more professional now than it was back then.
"The world has become more complicated and there are great expectations on us to maintain certain elements of the community.
"Sex offenders is one issue that is sadly quite topical in this area at the moment.
"Society's expectations have changed and the police force has responded to that, as has
the Scottish Executive in terms of the appropriate legislation.
"I know the depth of feeling there is around this issue at the moment and I think the views that Paul Martin MSP is putting across are understandable."
Superintendent Finlay says he is looking forward to building on the work which has already been done in the community by his predecessor, Superintendent Mike Keogh.
One of the projects he is especially proud of is Operation Reclaim, a joint partnership between the police and Glasgow City Council in Sighthill.
The project began when members of the Sighthill community, which includes many asylum seekers and refugees, told the police they were worried about gang fighting, violence and racial abuse in the area, which stopped them going out at night.
The police increased their presence in the area at the Red Road playing fields between 6pm and 9pm during the week and the council's culture and leisure department ran different sports activities including rugby, cricket and football.
Superintendent Finlay said: "I would like to see Operation Reclaim continue and develop. I know that the force is pleased with how it has gone and is con
sidering using the scheme elsewhere outside the division.
"There is a cost involved. Obviously when the officers are concentrated in one area, other places need to be covered, but it will continue until December then we will apply for new funding."
The dad-of-four lives on the south side of Glasgow with his wife Isobel and four children, aged between three and 15 years. In his spare time, Superintendent Finlay enjoys getting out in the garden and doing some DIY. But his biggest passion is food.
"I am not sporty at all but I enjoy food, which includes reading about it, selecting ingredients, cooking and eating it.
"I enjoy all different kinds of food, but with four children and this job I don't get a lot of spare time for hobbies."
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Friday 24 May 2013
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