The legendary retired Newtown police community support officer Graham Jennings has been nominated for the town's highest honour.

Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council will decide on Monday whether to make former PCSO Graham an Honorary Freeman in recognition of his "outstanding" service to the town.

This summer Graham called time on his long career with both Dyfed-Powys and South Wales police forces which spanned over 30 years.

He said: "I am proud of serving this wonderful community for so long and have met some fantastic people over the years.

"I am not sure what I will get up to in my retirement, but I am sure Dyfed-Powys Police will continue to serve the community and protect the most vulnerable."


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A special meeting of Newtown councillors will take place on Monday evening (September 25) to decide whether Graham will be given the honour of being part of an exclusive group.

Ever-popular fundraiser Rory Evans is the only living person to receive the honour which was unanimously agreed by the town council in March. The late historian David Pugh was posthumously recognised with the honour in 2017.

Graham served as a police officer for 12 years with South Wales Police then as a custody detention officer at Newtown police station in 2004 before taking on the role as a PCSO in 2006.

During his time as a bobbie on the beat, he received a divisional commander’s commendation relating to a serious firearms incident, and in 2016 was awarded a Chief Constable’s commendation for acting as a first responder to a fatality in Newtown.

Earlier this year he was recognised for his decades of public service after being nominated with a Lifetime Achievement Award finalist at the National PCSO Awards.

Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council said the honour “is purely and simply a recognition of merit”. To become a freeman or freewoman, they must be a "person of distinction" or have "rendered eminent service" to the town.