A POLICE constable who has Parkinson’s disease has had a book of poetry published.

PC Hywel Griffiths, 47, of Machen, is an intelligence officer with Gwent Police and has used poetry as a way of expressing his thoughts on life in the police force and life with Parkinson’s.

The book, Poems, Parkinson’s, the Police and Me, has just been published by Cambria Books and features dozens of poems by PC Griffiths.

Originally sold to work colleagues earlier this year, the book has been well received on Amazon and all proceeds are going to Parkinson’s UK.

PC Griffiths was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 32 in 1998 and gave up his role as a dog handler to move into intelligence with Gwent Police.

He said that two months before his diagnosis, he was told by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon that he was suffering from a frozen shoulder.

He said: “At the time of my diagnosis, I didn’t know what to think. I thought this was supposed to be an old man’s disease? Luckily, I had a positive Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist and she was brilliant.

“Life goes on and I don’t ever think, ‘Why me?’ One of the things I noticed since then is how much people complain. I just thought, ‘Get a life!’

“These things happen and you just need to get on with it. I made a promise to myself to the best I can be. For example, one of the reasons why I do publicity is for parents because it must terrible to be told that your son or daughter has Parkinson’s.”

Since his diagnosis, PC Griffiths has obtained a BSc Degree and a Diploma in Social Policy and Criminology from the Open University.

PC Griffiths said that transferring to the intelligence side of things has proved a rewarding process.

He said: “Luckily, Parkinson’s does not affect your intelligence or how you think. The force has been fabulous and the feedback I’ve gotten has been brilliant. As I always say, I’ve caught more criminals with a mouse than I ever did with a dog."

As well as Poems, Parkinson’s, the Police and Me, PC Griffiths has contributed 10 poems to an anthology, Coptales, that will be published next month. The book features poets and writers from across the UK.

Poems, Parkinson's and Me is available online and all proceeds will go to charities that help with Parkinson’s Disease.