Cadets
TVP’s Cadets scheme gives young people an opportunity to develop their qualities and skills through a structured programme and to enhance the relationship between the public and police. You will take part in neighbourhood policing initiatives, plus community activities and events.
The scheme encourages the spirit of adventure, offering the opportunity for you to be heard, support your community and develop skills to become a fantastic citizen in a fun and friendly environment.
The Volunteer Police Cadets are a diverse group of young people aged 13-18 years who have a desire to support their local communities and gain a practical understanding of policing. Applications from 13-16 year olds will be prioritised over 17 year olds so that they have sufficient time to complete the curriculum.
Life of a cadet
Discover the exciting opportunities available as a cadet
Becoming a Thames Valley Police Cadet is an exciting opportunity to:
- Make new friends and work as part of a team
- Gain a practical understanding of policing
- Embrace the spirit of adventure and good citizenship
- Support local policing through volunteering
- Give young people the chance to be heard
- Inspire young people to participate positively in your community
Want to know more about what happens at weekly cadet groups?
At your weekly sessions you will cover a wide range of topics and be part of plenty of fun activities, and although it will be dependent on your cadet group location, the sort of things you could get up to in group are:
- Drill practice/marching
- Learning about the role of policing in the community
- Learning about support agencies for all different types of crimes
- Play games like murder mysteries and forensic games
- Go to events in the community and help out (Remembrance Sunday, Carnivals, Festivals)
- Learn to use radios
- Talking to them about their community and what their roles are as cadets to be role models
- We have guest speakers come in from the museum, firearms, forensics etc.
"Joining the police cadets offers an exciting opportunity to learn new skills, make lasting friendships, and contribute to your community. It’s a chance to grow, develop leadership abilities, and gain valuable experiences that will shape your future."
Application Process
To join, please register an ‘expression of interest’ by emailing the cadet recruitment team on: thamesvalleypolicecadets@thamesvalley.police.uk. Please include your full name, address, DOB, contact details, location you would like to join and a short description of why you are interested in joining.
From Cadet to Chief Constable
Back in the 1980s, TVPs former Chief Constable John Campbell began his career in policing as a cadet. Reflecting back on that time, he never thought that one day he would end up as the Chief!
To celebrate his retirement after nearly 35 years in policing, and to help further develop our current cadets, he attended a session in Aylesbury where the cadets had the opportunity to interview him about anything that came to mind.
Here’s how it went…
Information for parents and carers
The volunteer police cadets offer a safe and friendly environment for young people to develop into good citizens. We are a fully inclusive uniformed youth group welcoming cadets from any social, economic, ethnic group, gender, ability or disability. We actively encourage young people who may feel disadvantaged through crime or social exclusion to join the VPC.
Risk assessment, vetting, and safeguarding
All activities are risk-assessed and have suitable insurance cover. All regular unit venues are risk assessed on an annual basis with a rolling assessment completed at each meeting.
All our leaders are suitably vetted, by the relevant police force, to national standards associated with looking after young people. All visitors to units are appropriately vetted and monitored too.
Cadets take part in a wide variety of activities relevant to their ability and age for which you will be asked to complete a Health and Permission form, ensuring that their unit is fully up to date with any health related issues. A Health and Permission form will need to be completed for every event.
Most forces are moving towards electronic registration and event planning for their cadets. All personal details are held under nationally recognised security conditions and are not shared with organisations outside the police service.
Read the national VPC safeguarding policy for information on how we will look after your young people while they are with us.
Reporting concerns
If you having any concerns about a cadet or a cadet leader you can raise them using the contact details outlined here. Anyone can use this process, parent, cadet, cadet leader or member of the public.
It doesn’t matter how small an issue may seem, or who the leader or cadet is, we would encourage you to get in contact to make us aware of the situation.
It’s important that people feel they can raise concerns, regardless of who they are against, as this helps us maintain a safe environment for cadets. If you see or experience something you are not happy with please report it.
In an emergency please contact your local police using either 101 or 999.
You can report any concerns you may have about a cadet or a cadet leader by emailing:
- Volunteer Police Cadets National Safeguarding Manager (office hours only)
- Volunteer Police Cadets team
- Independent Office of Police Conduct
- NSPCC
Alternatively you can phone the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.
The National VPC
The Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) is the nationally recognised police uniformed youth group throughout England & Wales. In Scotland they are known as Police Scotland Youth Volunteers.
All forces work to a national standard, whilst also ensuring local volunteer police cadets operate flexibly in local police forces with individual forces being responsible for their delivery. The sharing of good practice and learning is encouraged at a national level.
Please visit the VPC website for more information on the organisation.
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