Chief Inspector Paul Wilson, British Transport Police

Paul Wilson

“I am a ROC Ambassador because I am passionate about ROC. I really believe that ROC offers something unique in bringing together churches to work in partnership with the police and public sector. As the church seeks to remain relevant in today’s world and the government has thrown down its ‘Big Society’ challenge, ROC provides the opportunity for the church to mobilise and unite with a shared vision and heart for community."

We first met Paul in April 2008 at the ROC "Nuts and Bolts" conference at Ashburnham Place. Paul had recently been appointed as manager for the roll out of neighbourhood policing with BTP (British Transport Police) across London. He said "I found the title Nuts and Bolts quite intriguing and thought what ROC had to offer would be relevant to my new role. It was interesting to see that Chief Constable Matt Baggott was one of the speakers and as he was the police lead for neighbourhood policing the conference would be well worth while. It proved to be the start of an amazing journey for me with ROC."

Paul went on to become a ROC Ambassador and we all discovered his natural ability to speak about the work in such a way which inspired interest and enthusiasm in others.

This past year, Paul became the ROC London Co-ordinator and has been on the move around London, sharing the vision of ROC and putting words to action through local churches and neighbourhood policing teams. In 2010 we have seen ROC launching in 6 lead boroughs across London and in the City of London itself. ROC events have been held in each of the lead boroughs, and formal partnerships are now being established between churches and the public sector.

From April 2011, ROC seeks to go London-wide in phase two of the roll out across the Capital. Our aim is to have ROC set up in as many London boroughs as possible over the next 18 months with formal partnerships established between churches, local councils and the police under the ROC banner. As Paul says, "the church in London is growing and we want to see communities renewed and changed through this initiative."

"ROC is about fulfilling the church’s calling to be salt and light in communities and sharing stories of personal and community renewal and redemption through the transforming love of Jesus Christ. I am passionate about ROC because I believe that the Christian church has something truly radical to offer our society. ROC provides the means for the church to reoccupy the public square, to love our communities and take advantage of what I believe is the biggest opportunity for a generation to demonstrate what it has to offer our society."

Watch for more updates about ROC happenings around London here.

For more information on how YOU can become a ROC Ambassador, click here.