Primary school children become junior cadets

Ealing's become the first London borough to launch the Junior Volunteer Police Cadets programme in a primary school.

The programme started at Mayfield Primary School in Hanwell in September and on Thursday, 26 November, Chief Superintendent Dave Stringer, head of youth engagement for Territorial Policing met the junior cadets to see them in action.

During the session they discussed the police rank structure and had the opportunity to try on police uniform whilst learning about the different kit that officers carry.

Chief Superintendent Dave Stringer said: "It was a privilege to visit the Junior Cadets at Mayfield Primary School. They were so enthusiastic and keen to learn about the important role the police play in helping keep people safe. Our senior cadet taught them drill and they finished off with a game. I only wish I still had their energy!"

The programme is for year six pupils at the school where they meet every Thursday after school for an hour to learn drill, team work, police-related topics, first aid and also take part in a sporting activity.

The youngsters join the Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) family; a uniformed voluntary youth organisation supported by the Met. They will be led by senior VPC, police officers and cadet leaders who have been trained in mentoring and leadership to provide positive role models to their younger peers.

Ealing has also opened a second junior unit in Christ The Saviour Primary School with further units opening in the majority of the high schools across the borough this academic year.

Currently Ealing has 111 junior cadets in primary and high schools with numbers still growing.

Ealing Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Martin, said:
"I am proud to see the expansion of the Volunteer Police Cadets within the borough of Ealing. My officers and staff work hard to enable the cadets to be the best they can be, helping to steer them towards a positive future."

December 8th 2015