British Police Cadets

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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's 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.

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.

The Police Cadets around the UK include schemes in Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, London (the Metropolitan Police), Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Sussex and West Mercia.

1 Metropolitan Police
2 Merseyside Police
3 South Yorkshire Police
4 Sussex Police
5 Surrey Police
6 West Mercia Constabulary
7 Bedfordshire Police
8 Derbyshire Constabulary
9 Greater Manchester Police
10 Hertfordshire Constabulary
11 Lincolnshire Police
12 Other departments
13 External links

The London Metropolitan Police have twenty-nine schemes: Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Haringey, Hackney, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kingston, Lambeth South, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, North Lambeth, Redbridge, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Westminster North & Westminster South

http://www.met.police.uk/cadets/index.htm

Merseyside has Seven schemes running in Liverpool North, Liverpool South, The Wirral, Sefton, St Helens & Knowsley. The force-wide approach to the Cadets scheme was started in April 2006.

For more information go to

http://www.merseyside.police.uk/html/recruitment/cadets/index.htm

South Yorkshire has three schemes: Barnsley, Doncaster & Rotherham

http://www.southyorks.police.uk/departments/communitysafety/cadets/

Sussex has ten schemes: Brighton, Chichester, Eastbourne, East Grinstead, Forest, Police HQ (Lewes), Hastings and Rother, Shoreham & Worthing.

Cadet groups meet at a local Police station from 19.00hrs until 21.30hrs, every Friday night.

Also some cadet groups will meet on Wednesday night from 19:00hrs to 21:00hrs, during that time the cadets are taught various subject about law and how to be a police officer.

Over the year, cadets will participate in various event duties within the community, also the unit has complusory event also throughout the year.

http://www.sussex.police.uk/recruitment/cadets_main.asp

The Surrey Police Cadets were created in November 2003 with six founding members. This increased to seven shortly afterwards. The were founded after two teenagers from Elmbridge spoke to the Chief Constable of Surrey.

The program is open to 14-17-year olds, and consists of a three-day visit followed by a year-long program.

The three-day visit enables potential cadets to discover the different roles available to Officers and staff. Cadets in the short-term program are assessed throughout the three days and then the top 25 students are offered a 12-month placement as a Community Student.

According to the Surrey Police Force website, of all the police forces in the country, "Surrey has one of the lowest crime rates in the country." Due to its proximity to London there are a great many commuter villages in Surrey, the population density is very high and the denizens of the county are more affluent, on average, than other UK citizens.