Young people can become Police Cadets

YOUNG people in Yeovil and surrounding area are being given the chance to find out what policing is really like by joining a new Volunteer Police Cadet unit Somerset - but they only have until Friday (October 11, 2013) to get their application in.

The new unit will actually be based in Street, but is open to anyone aged 14 to 17 who lives in Mendip or South Somerset and is able to travel to Street for the weekly sessions.

Volunteer cadet units have been running in Taunton and North Somerset since last year.

The cadets will be given uniforms and will meet once a week during term time at Street Young People's Centre. After initial training, they'll get involved with helping their communities.

In the first six months of a pilot scheme cadets spent 137 hours on public duties such as handing out crime prevention information at shopping centres or checking car parks for vehicles left unlocked or with property on view. Almost all the cadets involved in the pilot said they'd recommend the scheme to family and friends.

Older cadets also volunteer with the neighbourhood policing teams, joining PCSOs on foot patrols, helping to carry out house-to-house enquiries or joining Community Speed Watch volunteers, monitoring speeds on local roads.

Applications should be submitted by Friday, October 11, 2013, with the new unit due to start in November.

The Avon and Somerset Volunteer Police Cadet scheme is run by police officers, police staff and volunteers in their spare time, with costs met through sponsorship.

For information and advice on joining the new unit contact Inspector Tim Powell-Gill or Youth Project Co-ordinator Jenny Maynard by calling 101 or e-mailing tim.powell-gill@avonandsomerset.police.uk or jennifer.maynard@avonandsomerset.police.uk

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