Volunteer Cadets

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Latest News

• Volunteer Police Cadet expansion - 01 October 2009
• VPC involved in London for London campaign - 01 October 2009
• Annual Cadets competition - 11 July 2009

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Who are we?

We inspire young people from London's diverse communities to achieve their full potential by teaching them self confidence, valuable new skills and good citizenship. Working with the Metropolitan Police, Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) encourages them to have some serious fun as they participate in team-based programmes and activities that promote safer, healthier neighbourhoods across our capital.

Watch what you can do in the Cadets on our video on YouTube.

Be part of our success

If you're between 14 and 18, and you're up for a challenge, find out how the VPC can offer you a world of adventure and new opportunities. It's an exciting way to make new friends, pick up valuable skills and have some fun.

More importantly it's a chance to show what you're made of and earn the respect of those around you. No one's going to judge you. If you're on our team, we're only interested in where you're at now and where you're heading.

Get involved - sometimes your actions speak louder than words

Cadet Units meet once a week during a chosen evening in their local boroughs. Meetings usually include drill/inspection, some sort of physical activity, a guest speaker or input on a police related topic as part of an ongoing training programme. Cadet Units involve themselves in other activities at weekends and in school holidays and this may include going away on camps/adventure weeks to different parts of the UK or even abroad. Various Cadet Competitions are also held during the year, which test the skills developed within the VPC Units. The VPC is a licensed authority to run the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and a growing number of units are involved in this. The VPC is also aligned to the Jack Petchey Foundation which supports young people through their achievement award scheme.

The Cadets often perform duties in support of local policing plan objectives. This is particularly so in relation to Safer Neighbourhood initiatives. Whilst they are not allowed to patrol with police officers the Cadets can perform tasks such as crime prevention initiatives, message/leaflet delivery, test purchase operations to combat underage sales of alcohol, fireworks and knives and involvement in non-confrontational local events.

Cadets also get involved in MPS wide deployments such as Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Day Parades, London Marathon and various Conferences and Charity Events.
All Cadet activities are risk assessed to comply with Health & Safety and Child Protection policies and procedures.

Inspired to join?

Please contact the Cadet Unit in your local London Borough, just visit the Borough Locator page

Please follow this link to send us your enquiries: Volunteer Police Cadets Enquiries