WEST MIDLANDS Police now has the capacity for 750 Police Cadets after a 25th unit opened recently in Walsall.
The scheme sees young people join the force as cadets and take part in volunteering, learn about policing and visit different police teams, such as firearms or dog units.
The aim is to break down barriers between young people and the police, provide activity for them outside of school hours and potentially open their eyes to a career in policing.
The 750 target was promised by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster in his manifesto.
The Cadet scheme started in 2017 at a school in Stechford.
Since then it has grown to 25 units, each with the capacity for 30 young people.
Now organisers are looking for more adult volunteers from communities in our region to help run the scheme.
Anyone who volunteers will be vetted, before being trained by officers.
In just a few weeks’ time the cadets will again come together to help out with the German Markets in Birmingham, acting as a volunteering force to help with the running of the event.
In the past they have also helped the police look for weapons hidden in parks, lent a hand at food banks and visited care homes.
Mr Foster said: “I’m delighted that the Cadet scheme now has enough units to allow it to grow and accommodate 750 young people.
“What started out as a relatively small initiative in 2017 is now huge.
“It is building bridges with young people across the West Midlands who might previously have had reservations about working with the police.
“These young people will grow up understanding the role of the police, how they are helping to keep people safe and, you never know, they might even join the force in the years ahead.”
Visit wmp.referrals.selectminds.com/jobs/cadet-leader-volunteer-1571 for more information.
