Police cadets

What is a Police Cadet?

Our Volunteer Police Cadet scheme is designed for young people between the ages of 13 and 18. The scheme provides exciting opportunities to develop new skills and self-confidence, while taking an active part in helping to deliver policing to the local communities.

The scheme aims to:

• promote a practical understanding of policing amongst all young people
• encourage the spirit of adventure and good citizenship
• support local policing priorities through volunteering and give young people a chance to be heard
• inspire young people to participate positively in their communities

A quarter of our cadets are from a vulnerable background and represent the diversity of the area. Their training ranges from learning about community policing skills and citizenship to participating in operations and events.

The cadet scheme will provide you with a valuable insight into policing in Gloucestershire.

About the role

You will be involved in various police events and operations, helping to make a real difference in the local community with crime reduction and other public engagement initiatives. You will get an opportunity to assist Neighbourhood Policing Teams and our Special Constabulary colleagues with operational work such as speeding, mobile phone use in vehicles, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and lots more.

You will be asked to help at some public events where a visible uniformed police presence is needed.

Please be assured that your safety is our first priority - we will never put you in harms way. All cadet deployments in public are fully risk-assessed and no cadet will ever be exposed to any potentially dangerous situations.

What is involved?

You'll be issued with a cadet uniform but you'll need to provide your own boots, which can be sourced through the Cadet programme. There is also a weekly subs payment of £1 paid in person on the night of Cadets.

Our units meet on the following days:

• Waterwells unit, Cheltenham unit and Stroud unit: Wednesday evenings
• Quedgeley unit, Forest of Dean unit and Cirencester unit: Thursday evenings

There may be times when we deploy on operations on other weekday evenings, weekends and occasionally during school holidays. We will give you as much notice as possible.

The syllabus includes:

• policing duties and skills
• sporting activities and drill (including parades)
• participation in community/police crime prevention initiatives and events.

The initiatives and events may include:

• carrying out reassurance visits in communities
• visiting older members of the community and promoting crime reduction initiatives
• promoting personal safety
• assisting with community schemes such as speed watch and promoting awareness of online safety
• working with local Neighbourhood Policing Teams and in local areas to promote safety messages and provide reassurance
• supporting the Police and Crime Plan

Standards

As a cadet, we expect you to turn up smartly and promptly for training and duties. You will be expected to do your best to serve the communities of Gloucestershire and to treat others fairly and with respect. We will also expect high standards of behaviour.

Above all though, we want you to learn, try your best and enjoy the experience of being a Gloucestershire Constabulary Volunteer Police Cadet.

Who can apply?

Eligible candidates will be:

• 13 to 18 years old
• Anyone within the age ranges can apply, including foreign residents.

If you've been in trouble with the police, this will be considered before any offer of a cadet placement is given.

Cadet bases

Your base will depend on what unit you apply join.

• The Waterwells and Quedgeley units are based at the Constabulary Headquarters at Waterwells, Quedgeley, Gloucester.
• The Cirencester unit is based at Cirencester Police Station, The Forum, Cirencester.
• The Stroud unit is based at Stroud Police Station, Parliament Street, Stroud.
• The Cheltenham unit is based at Cheltenham Police Station, Holland House.
• The Forest of Dean unit is based at Coleford Police Station.

Recruitment process

Below we have included an example of what to expect when it comes to recruitment stages should you apply to become a Police Cadet.

Training

Training for the new recruits will take place at our Sabrina Centre, in Berkeley.

How to apply

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer police cadet please complete the cadet application form and email it to us [email protected]

Apply to become a Cadet Leader

We're looking for new Cadet Leaders to join our team.

Our Police Cadet Force has grown considerably over the last year whilst supporting our Neighbourhood Policing service.

As this is an expanding program we are constantly looking for volunteers to work with these young people to deploy to events as a chaperone. Could you spare a few hours each month and help?

As a leader you will work with our cadets aged between 13 and 18 years old who are from all backgrounds and abilities. Cadet meetings take place during term time, once a week from 7pm-9pm, with the occasional deployment on weekends. Don't worry if you can't attend every session, we simply ask you to attend when you can. 

Becoming a leader is richly rewarding as you will get to see the cadets develop into confident, outstanding young members of the community.

If you are interested in becoming a leader please complete the Cadet Leader application form and email it to us.

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