A POLICEMAN is retiring from the force after devoting much of his 34-year career to protecting people in his home town.

Martin Coyne, pictured, has been the sergeant in Radcliffe’s neighbourhood policing team for the past five years and previously patrolled the streets as a PC from 1983 to 1993.

He has become a well-known figure in the town, involved in a wide range of tasks, from tracing burglars and uncovering cannabis farms to attending local area partnership meetings and joining the parade on Remembrance Day.

But the 56-year-old will pull on his uniform for the last time on December 21 as he prepares to start his retirement.

Sgt Coyne, who grew up in Radcliffe and now lives in Bolton, said: “The most enjoyable part of all my police service has been the time I have spent in Radcliffe. It is great that I have had the opportunity to do something for the town and make a real difference.

“A lot of things in Radcliffe have changed over the years. We have managed to reduce anti-social behaviour with a lot of initiatives. The team has put a lot of effort into improving life for residents.

“I have also been involved in making sure we are involved with community groups and that people know their local officers.” Sgt Coyne joined the police force on March 22, 1976, and went to Bruche police training centre in Warrington.

He was based at Bury police station and worked in a variety of roles as a PC, including attachments with CID and other units.

He was involved in policing the 1981 riots in Moss Side and Toxteth, as well as the miners’ strikes in 1984.

Sgt Coyne also worked on the investigation into a house fire in Massey Street, Bury, on Christmas Day, 1984, which claimed the lives of nine people, including four children.

He moved to Radcliffe police station in 1983, where he worked as an area PC before becoming acting sergeant in 1988.

He joined the Wigan division when he was promoted to sergeant in 1993, later returning to Bury in 2003 and then Radcliffe in 2005.

In his retirement, Sgt Coyne will spend more time with his three sons and visit family and friends abroad.

He will continue his work with the police cadets as a volunteer and hopes to become involved with the Duke Of Edinburgh award scheme.

He said: “I will miss the people of Radcliffe. I have made a lot of good friends here. I have been in the force for a long time though.”