Chinatown job for ex-cop Robert “Reg” Greenacre
Former West End police officer is centre’s first non-Chinese boss
Published: 20th May, 2011
by JOSH LOEB
A FORMER Westminster bobby has swapped Chinatown for... Chinatown.
For the bulk of his 33-year career, Robert “Reg” Greenacre was a familiar face in the distinctive West End district, which he patrolled as part of the Metropolitan Police’s specialist Chinatown unit.
He retired from the police force earlier this year, but the board of directors at the Chinese Community Centre (CCC) soon offered him a new job managing its premises in Gerrard Street.
Mr Greenacre knows only a few words of Cantonese and is the first non-Chinese manager in the centre’s history.
Two weeks into his new role, he has some big challenges on his plate, including assisting with fundraising, helping to arrange the CCC’s 30th anniversary celebrations and overseeing a move to new premises above the Hippodrome later this year.
But he told the West End Extra he was thrilled to be back in Chinatown, saying he had received “very good feedback”.
An artist in his spare time, Mr Greenacre helped paint a mural in the centre’s main hall and has even sold some of his artwork to help boost funds for the CCC, a registered charity.
The 51-year-old, who received a lifetime achievement award for his work in the police and a Royal Humane Society award after he rescued a man who was in danger of falling from the ledge of a West End theatre, said Chinatown had experienced many changes since he began working in the area 28 years ago.
“In those days there were serious crime problems here,” he said. “Now those are very few and far between. The stereotypical image of the Chinese community plagued by crime is not true. They have a very peaceful time in Chinatown, because we’ve had a very dedicated police team in this area for so long.”
Mr Greenacre’s knowledge of China was boosted by trips to the country which he undertook with other police officers working in and around Gerrard Street. He described his former job as that of “a village police officer in the middle of a city – I knew everyone and they knew me”.
He added: “Doing this job in the community centre means I can remain in Chinatown, whereas without any sort of job opportunity here I would have been lost to the area.”
The CCC provides advice on benefits and assistance with paperwork to Chinese people who might otherwise encounter language problems.
It also acts as a social centre via luncheon clubs for the elderly.
A Chinese youth group meets there every Sunday, and the centre runs English language classes and even affordable Cantonese classes as part of its role in promoting Chinese culture.