Police cadets in the United Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Police Cadets is a British youth organisation, that offers an insight into policing. Joining the cadets is open to both males and females, with the common age range being 14 to 18 years of age, although they do vary. Police Cadets are usually allowed to carry out non-confrontational policing duties, such as handing out leaflets.
Traditionally young people in the United Kingdom from the age of 16 could apply to join a Police Force as a full time and paid Police cadet (if that Force operated such a scheme), the Police Cadets were seen as a precursor to joining the Police at 19, although there was no compulsion for any cadet to do so.
The largest cadet scheme is operated by the Metropolitan Police Service, which has its own Police Cadet Training Centre. Activities involved continuing further education (studying for A-levels), learning about the police service which included attachments to Divisions and Specialist departments, First Aid, Community work/projects which include working with the disabled and disadvantaged groups, all cadets were encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and all schemes included an element of Outdoor Experience course involving: rock climbing, Kayaking/canoeing, Hillwalking and Navigation.
Police Cadets never had the powers of a Police Constable.
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[edit] Uniform
The Police cadet uniform was identical to uniform of regular constables with the exception that they wore a peaked cap with a blue band and they would have a police cadet bananna flash/badge on the shoulders of their tunics.
[edit] Disbanding
Most Police Cadet schemes were closed around 1990 due to budget cuts.
[edit] Police careers
Many of the most senior policemen in the UK (Commissioners of Metropolitan Police Service, City of London, and Chief Constables) started their careers as full time Police cadets. This does not however offer you a place for certain but it will help with the selection process.
[edit] Police Cadets in popular culture
During 1980 ITV aired The Squad which followed the fictional adventures of Metropolitan Police Cadets.
[edit] Volunteer Police Cadets
In the UK, there are a number of Volunteer Police Cadet schemes for young people aged between 14 and 18. These groups are designed to provide a sense of what it is like to be a police officer, by getting cadets involved in various police related activities, such as crime prevention projects. Some forces allow cadets to go out on patrol with Police Officers or PCSO's once they reach 16.
There are no formal entry requirements in most forces to become a cadet, however in all forces cadets must not have a criminal record, and this is checked prior to joining.
Following the demise of the full time cadet scheme, one of the first Volunteer Police Cadet schemes was launched in Cambridgeshire. These cadets wore a similar uniform to the old full time cadets but were issued with a Navy blue Police sweater instead of a tunic. In Hertfordshire a Volunteer Cadet Scheme was launched at Force Headquarters, this scheme was predominantly based on sporting activities or the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. It was non uniformed but cadets were issued with a light blue V neck sweater which had the county emblem (non police) embroided on it. In North Wales a force wide Volunteer Cadet Scheme was launched to support the Police at non-confrontational events. These Cadets are issued with uniform similar to regular officers but with green and white checks.
Once a year, police cadets representing forces from all over the country spend a weekend at Hendon Police College, in North London, for the annual National Police Cadet Competitions. This involves cadets competing in a range of police activities and scenarios, in which they are assessed. Prizes are given out at the end of the weekend for the best performing forces. In 2006, the Metropolitan Police announced that the National Cadet Competition was no longer to be held at Hendon due to operational and financial reasons. It is unknown at this time if another force will offer a similar establishment for use.
There has been discussion on the expansion of volunteer police cadets to all 43 territorial forces in England & Wales based on the North Wales model of the scheme. This could be introduced as early as the end of 2009.
On Sunday 14th June 2009, The metropolitan police volunteer police cadets took part in what is believed to of been the largest ever formal parade of young people, to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the establishment of the volunteer police cadet force in what was named as the "colour parade" and was carried out on Horse Guard's parade. Each cadet troop was formally passed standards (flags) under the review of the metropolitan police commissioner; Sir Paul Stephenson, and other senior officers of the metropolitan police. The parade also included the showing of vintage police vehicles, police dogs, and a static display of the boy's brigade massed bugle band. Bands that lead the four columns of a total of 1,400 cadets (and a various number of police cadet staff that also hold different roles within the metropolitan police) were as follows: Metropolitan Police Pipe Band, The Nottinghamshire Police Pipe Band, The British Airways Brass Band, The Enfield Distict Scout Band.
[edit] Schemes in operation
- Bedfordshire Police
- Derbyshire Constabulary
- Essex Police
- Grampian Police
- Greater Manchester Police
- Hertfordshire Constabulary
- Lancashire Police
- Lincolnshire Police
- Merseyside Police Force-wide in April 2006. Operates seven scheme across Merseyside
- Metropolitan Police Operates twenty-nine schemes across the Greater London area.
- North Wales Police Force-wide in June 2007
- South Yorkshire Police Operates three schemes in Barnsley, Doncaster & Rotherham
- Strathclyde Police Currently running, but further intakes have been canceled for the foreseeable future
- Surrey Police
- Sussex Police
- West Mercia Constabulary
[edit] External links
- Police Could You
- UK Police service portal
- Police Cadet forum
- Avon and Somerset Constabulary (Police Cadets)
- Bedfordshire Police Cadets
- Derbyshire Police Cadets
- Essex Police Cadets
- Greater Manchester Police Police Cadets
- Hertfordshire Constabulary Volunteer Police Cadets
- Merseyside Police Cadets
- Metropolitan Police Cadets
- North Wales Police Volunteer Cadets
- Lancashire Police Cadets
- Lincolnshire Police Volunteer Cadets
- South Yorkshire Police Cadets
- Strathclyde Police Cadets Programme
- Surrey Police Community Support Cadets
- Sussex Police Cadets
- West Mercia Police Cadets
- Colour Parade Announcement - Metropolitan Police
