Tim Jacques: A different zone

By Ged Henderson

01 Aug 2024

Tim Jacques

From being one of the highest-ranking police officers in the country to chief executive of Preston’s emerging Youth Zone, on the surface Tim Jacques’ career looks to have taken an unexpected turn.

He doesn’t see it that way. Tim believes the new charity organisation he is heading has a direct link to his work in uniform, providing positive opportunities denied to many young people he came across during his 37-year police career and leading them away from taking the wrong path.

The Youth Zone, currently under construction in the city centre on a site near The Guild Hall and bus station, expects to have more than 4,000 young members.

It was that chance to make a real difference to young people in his home town that persuaded Tim, who spent the last six years of his career in charge of UK counter-terrorism operations, to make the move.

He says: “I’ve done well in my career, better than I expected and I’m one of those people who really needs to believe in what they’re doing.

When I first came across Youth Zones more than a decade ago, I thought, ‘this is amazing, I’d love to be involved in bringing one to Preston’.

“I look back at my time in the police and the young people I came into contact with who found themselves in trouble. They weren’t ‘bad’ they had just ended up taking a wrong turn or getting in with the wrong crowd and they hadn’t had the right opportunities.

“That’s why I believe what we are doing can make a real difference. I genuinely believe in the goodness of people. This is not just about delivering an amazing activity centre, it is about transforming lives.”

Tim joined the Lancashire Constabulary at the age of 21, enthused by watching officers policing a Preston North End away game at Bolton on a rainy Tuesday evening and encouraged to apply by his dad.

The father of three grown up children went on to have a stellar career. His skills included being a firearms officer and trained negotiator. Intelligence gathering was another area he excelled in.

Tim was the Chief Superintendent in Preston, before becoming Assistant Chief Constable for the Lancashire force and then Deputy Assistant Commissioner at The Met, when he took on his counter-terror role.

Looking back at his time in counter terrorism Tim says: “I believe I had the best job in British policing.”

It was a role which involved working with the security services and the military, briefing very senior politicians on a regular basis. He also spearheaded the counter-terror response to the Manchester Arena bombing, including two years later overseeing the extradition of the attacker’s brother back to the UK to face British justice.

Tim is now hard at work preparing for the opening of the purpose built 2,500 sqm Youth Zone next year.

And he points out the importance of local businesses getting involved, as they have done successfully in Youth Zones in other parts of Lancashire.

Pointing out it will cost more than £1m a year to keep the venture afloat, he says: “We’re getting some good support and lots of interest from the business community, but we inevitably need more.

“The buy in from business will be crucial and we are not just talking about cash, though that is important, of course!

“We need businesses to get really involved, for example in coaching, mentoring and helping to develop employability skills in our young people. In short there are lots of way they can support us.”

Tim's take on leadership

What makes a good leader?

A good leader needs to be open, honest and vulnerable. Leaders don’t have all the answers, they need to create an environment where people can trust and question.

When you’re a police negotiator, you have someone who ‘holds your belt’, sometimes physically if you’re talking to someone at the top of a building.

It’s someone who has that relationship which means they can say ‘Are you sure about that?’ and who will question you in the heat of the moment.

The more open you are, your decision making will be better, informed by those people around you. If you create a culture where people think there is no point in them saying or doing anything, that is counter-productive.

Which leaders have inspired you?

I’ve been inspired by a number of people throughout my career, including Pauline Clare who was the country’s first female chief constable.

She came into Lancashire and restructured the force, it was a massive challenge. Her work set up what was already a well-respected police force, and re-shaped it for the future, creating one of the highest-performing forces in the country, and a generation of leaders who went on to fill some of the most senior roles in UK policing.

I was also the Staff Officer to (Sir) Paul Stephenson, another former Lancashire chief constable, before he went down to lead The Met.

I learned an awful lot from him about “strategic thinking”, understanding the detail in order to encapsulate it, and then joining the dots across the many varied areas of policing.

I saw him wrestle with particular, new or emerging issues, really wanting to understand them and once he did, he never forgot anything!

What qualities does a leader need?

You can’t be a worrier and be in the counter-terrorism business. You should always push yourself out of your comfort zone and you also need humility.

Being consistent is also important. There will be difficult conversations but if you deliver your message in that consistent, calm way, it will probably be more impactful, and I’ve found that people are more likely open up and you’ll get more out of them.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Ged Henderson

Latest news

1

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans Waste recycling Blackpool

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans

01 Jul 2025

2

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries Graham Engineering

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries

01 Jul 2025

3

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted Training 2000

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted

01 Jul 2025

4

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons Colin Fisher, Paul Fox CEO and Gary Fisher.

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons

01 Jul 2025

5

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners Dean Curtis and Joe Diston

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners

01 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin