Police Cadets
Our Police Cadet recruitment is currently closed.
If you are interested in becoming a Police Cadet, then we would welcome you to join our online information event to find out more about the role on 7 December 2022. More information and how to sign up can be found further down this page.
Our next Cadet recruitment is due to take place in January 2023.
We are currently looking for Cadet Leaders.
You can find out more information about the roles and how to apply below.
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 £5 quarterly subs which can be paid via BACS payment.
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
- A resident of Gloucestershire
- Anyone within the age ranges who lives in Gloucestershire 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.
Please note that for the January 2023 recruitment we will not be accepting applications for our Waterwells or Quedgeley units.
We are committed to providing a quality cadet scheme to all parts of the county and are looking to expand to other local policing areas in the near future.
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.
You must first register your interest to become a Police Cadet.
The form to register your interest will be added to this page when the next recruitment opens (dates to be confirmed).
Eligible candidates will then be invited to an information evening with the Cadet Lead and Deputy Cadet Lead.
You will then need to submit your application. Details for how to submit your application will be provided once you have registered your interest and attended the information evening.
Submitted applications will then go through a shortlisting process which will be followed by a notification to eligible candidates.
Eligible candidates will then be invited to an interview.
Successful candidates will then take part in training to learn a variety of skills needed to be a Police Cadet, including learning first aid.
All initial training is carried out at the Sabrina Centre, Berkeley.
Successful candidates will then need to attend a uniform fitting.
Successful candidates will then be deployable in uniform.
Upcoming recruitments
Our next Police Cadet recruitment is due to take place in January 2023 (exact dates will be published on this page soon). Training for the new recruits will take place in either March or September 2023, depending on the unit and number of recruits.
Please note that for our January 2023 recruitment we will only be accepting applications for the following cadets bases:
- Forest of Dean (parades on a Thursday)
- Cheltenham (parades on a Wednesday)
- Cirencester (parades on a Thursday)
- Stroud (parades on a Wednesday)
We will not be recruiting for our Waterwells or Quedgeley bases.
Online information event
If you are interested in becoming a Police Cadet but would like to know more information before applying, then we welcome you to join us at our online information event. Anyone aged between 13 to 18 years is welcome to join.
The event will take place on Wednesday 7th December at 7pm and will be held via Microsoft Teams.
To register for the event, please use complete the form below. Instructions on how to join will be sent to you via email.
Sign up to the online information event
Apply to become a Police Cadet
Our Police Cadet recruitment is currently closed.
We would welcome your application in our next recruitment which is due to take place in January 2023.
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 at [email protected].