Metropolitan Police Service - Volunteer Cadets

On 21 September 2011, the Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) were awarded a prestigious London Peace Award by the Mayor's office at the GLA, for 'Bridge-Building in the Community' following the work many of the Volunteer Police Cadet Co-ordinators and their cadets did to repair communities and their confidence in policing and young people, following the disturbances in London this August.

Omar Issa, VPC Coordinator in Westminster was there to receive the award on the organisation's behalf.

Cadets in affected boroughs, which included Bromley, Hackney, Lambeth, Croydon, Haringey, Lewisham, Southwark, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Tower Hamlets, Camden and Merton, all rallied together to help clean-up and repair the damage done in their communities, to reassure local businesses and residents. They demonstrated extraordinary commitment, dedicating over 2100 volunteering hours over 2 weeks, to rebuild public confidence, and remind communities of the extraordinary good that most young people do, and of the positivity and passion they bring to this city.

The cadets did everything from visiting and making tea for elderly residents in local care homes, packing bags for shoppers in supermarkets, painting shop facades and boarded up windows, visiting businesses to offer security and crime prevention advice, running Junior Citizens Programmes when all officers were needed elsewhere, handing out leaflets appealing for information to help police, creating 'Peace Walls' to unite communities, giving information to young people on how they can get involved and volunteer to help their communities, as well as many more general reassurance and engagement patrols. The community appreciation shown was enormous, with residents commenting on how reassuring and important their activity was, and how proud they were to see such positive young people standing up for their community.

Gwanwyn Mason, Volunteer Police Cadet Programme Development Manager said:

"I have never been prouder to work for the VPC than over those few weeks, and I hope this recognition goes a small way to making everyone realise how valuable what the cadets and their leaders do for this city and all of us.

"The London Peace Award is an fantastic achievement for the VPC and the cadets who showed such initiative and commitment to repairing both the physical and psychological damage done by the disorder."

Chief Superintendent Chris Bourlet Safer Neighbourhoods OCU Commander, said:

"I am extremely proud of all our cadets for their involvement in this and all activities that make such a positive difference to our city, you do a fantastic job and make such a difference for Londoners.

"Congratulations to all involved and thank you so much for what you have done and what I know you will continue to do."