Call for police cadet recruits from borough
Experience life as a bobby
TEENAGERS who fancy an early experience as life as a modern bobby are being urged to sign up to Leicestershire Police’s new cadet programme.
Recruitment started on Wednesday March 1 with the launch of a promotional video and the target of welcoming 150 new faces in September 2017.
The scheme invites young people aged 13 to 17 years to gain valuable skills and experience while helping their community.
Cadets mix with regular officers, take part in team building exercises and community and sporting events as well as learn about how the constabulary works. Qualifications such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award can also be achieved.
The aim is to promote a practical understanding of policing among young people, bolster local policing priorities through volunteering and give young people a chance to be heard.
Volunteer Policing Cadet (VPC) lead, Sergeant Danny Graham, said: “Joining the cadets is an excellent opportunity for anyone wanting to try something new, increase their skills and confidence and meet people from all walks of life.”
The force has more than 200 cadets enrolled on the programme who all attend weekly sessions during the academic year.
The Hinckley cadet unit meets at the Hinckley Academy every Thursday from 6pm to 8pm.
Sgt Paul Crewe, a cadet leader at Hinckley, said: “The Hinckley cadets are a delight to lead, they’re always full of enthusiasm for the work they do and are a credit to Leicestershire Police.
“The other leaders and I try to give them as many opportunities as possible, for example they’ve enjoyed learning how to complete a systematic police search, using chocolate instead of real evidence, and we’ve planned a trip to visit the Thames Valley Police horses later this year.
“I’d encourage any young person to get involved with the programme and I’m looking forward to welcoming the new cadets in September 2017.”
Keaton Payne, aged 17, has been a VPC in Hinckley for just over a year. He said: “Being a cadet is a brilliant way to gain a real insight into the world of policing. We regularly mix with police officers from Hinckley and across the force who can give us first hand experiences and pass on knowledge and skills.
“The community events we do are really fun. I enjoy engaging with the community and it’s rewarding to be able to make a positive difference. We also got to see inside a police helicopter recently, which was very exciting too.”
A group of current cadets volunteered to star in the new promotional video, which aims to provide a snapshot of the opportunities and activities offered to cadets, including a visit to the East Midlands Operational Support Service (EMOpSS) dog section, a tour of a riot van and a leaflet drop to help police with a major investigation.
Recruitment is only open for one month and will close on Friday March 31 at 5pm.
For further information and to download an application form please visit the Leicestershire Volunteer Police Cadet website.