Police youth camp builds skills

THE Metropolitan police department’s youth academy camp over the Heritage Day weekend was a resounding success.

Launched in 2013, the youth academy camps have seen 2 347 young people participating in what has become one of the City of Cape Town’s Metro Police Department’s (CTMPD) most established social crime-prevention initiatives.

“These camps are a stepping stone into the department’s youth cadet programme,” said mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith.

“Since then, thousands of young people from schools across the city have participated in the camps, which focus on life skills and leadership, with group engagement on a range of topics that come up for discussion.”

Group topics included gangsterism, peer pressure and ethics.

Favourite items on the programme were physical activity and demonstrations by the metro police K9 and equestrian units.

The department devises and funds the programme and the Western Cape Education Department identifies schools to participate.

“The camps provide our young people with the opportunity to see beyond their circumstances and encourage them to look at law enforcement through different eyes.

“About 165 of those who attended the camps have been selected for our youth cadet programme and some have become leaders,” Smith said.

The cadet programme aims to help participants become active community leaders by instilling a sense of social responsibility and active citizenship, and by fostering a partnership with the metro police and other law-enforcement agencies to fight crime and keep the city safe.

Cadets are eligible to wear the uniform, go out on public duty under supervision, and receive membership award certificates.