#GMPeople: meet the Jewish volunteer who works with our communities

As part of Holocaust Memorial Day today (27 January 2022), meet the Jewish volunteer who drives trucks day-to-day and drives activity within the Jewish communities in his spare time since joining the force after being a victim of and reporting Anti-Semitism.

Special Constabulary Inspector Moshe Rothstein joined GMP's Special Constabulary as a Constable in May 2012 before rising through the ranks as a Special Inspector with a team of over 20 in Bury.

The 37-year-old was encouraged to join by officers who he got to know after reporting Anti-Semitic hate incidents over a number of years.

He said: "I joined as a Special in May 2012 after I got to know some of the local officers who I reported Anti-Semitic incidents to and they encouraged me to sign up.

"Training at the beginning was amazing and since then, I've helped bridge some vital gaps between the Jewish communities that we serve because a lot of them come to me and see me as 'one of them' almost.

"I understand both the police side of things and know why it's important to report but I also see the communities' side of things which really helps. I also try to raise cultural awareness within GMP and help other officers who may not come from a Jewish background to understand hate crime and the issues."

Moshe, from Manchester, also has a passion for making our roads safer given that he's a truck driver in his day-to-day work.

He said: "I drive trucks during the day so when I'm on duty as a Special I try to and help to make the roads safer by carrying out traffic operations by stopping and educating drivers - especially around the importance of wearing seatbelts which I'm passionate about from my day-to-day job.

The 37-year-old won the National Ferrers Award as Special of the Year in 2016 and has held onto a vulnerable teenager who was in distress on a bridge, helped an elderly woman with a fractured pelvis following a collision to carry her shopping home and continues to manage a team of over 20 volunteers across Bury.

He added: "Being in the Special Constabulary means you can really make a difference to someone's life. It's flexible around your day-to-day job and you can help make the world a better place.

"Specials gives you the opportunity to make the world a better place. What you put into it is what you get back. I love my weekly foot patrol around Prestwich and meeting people - you never know what impact you could have on someone.

"Being in the police means you can be there for someone at their lowest, making it the most rewarding feeling ever."