The British Transport Police (BTP) is calling on young people to sign up as cadets. BTP wants young people at the forefront of engaging with their local communities.
Based near Highbury and Islington Underground station on Holloway Road, the Volunteer Police Cadet scheme for the BTP is recruiting its latest batch of teenagers. Those aged 13 to 17 can apply as preparations get underway for the easing of lockdown.
Cadets meet on Tuesday evenings between 6pm and 8pm, although the pandemic has restricted them to weekly virtual sessions.
Tony Freeman, BTP citizens in policing sergeant and the force cadet coordinator, said recruitment was aiming to build up a pool of cadets so that they could hit the ground running.
“The government roadmap has basically given us a bit of light at the end of the tunnel so that we can actually see where we can start to bring back face-to-face activities,” he said.
PS Freeman has been in the police service for about 25 years in various roles, alongside being the force cadet coordinator for the past three years.
He added: “Working with young people is certainly the best job in the force.
“Cadets is about inspiring and supporting young people to make a difference in their local community.
“It is enjoyable to work with people that are highly motivated.
“Most of the time they know why they are there.”
Police cadet scheme builds confidence
The cadet programme has heritage and railway-related projects in the pipeline. Its focus is on the learning and developing of new skills alongside leadership and team-building exercises. This is aimed at enabling teenagers to become confident when talking to people about crime prevention initiatives.
Once BTP cadets turn 18, there are opportunities for them to become adult leaders in the police force. Tasks involved in this role could include training of drug dogs.
PS Freeman said the cadet scheme enabled young people to “come together to make new friends, take part in fun and exciting activities and learn some really good skills like first aid”.
“The cadets give young people an insight into the police service they won’t always get,” he added.
“They see it almost from the inside as opposed to the outside.”
But BTP is aware that the relationship between the police and youth has been in constant flux.
Of 7,832 young people aged 11 to 16, exactly half said they had a “good opinion” of the police, according to the Youth Voice Survey 2018.
One of the benefits of the cadets, according to PS Freeman, is that “those barriers can be broken down by actual cadets engaging with young people who sometimes do not want to engage with the police”.
He added: “When we go out and do crime prevention initiatives, you will see that the public are keen to speak to the cadets and find out what they’re doing.”
It is free to join the cadets and uniforms are provided at no cost. PS Freeman said this was important as not everyone had the funds available to pay subscriptions.
The BTP cadets scheme aims to recruit 25 per cent of cadets from vulnerable backgrounds. This includes young people and adults in need of special care, support or protection because of age, disability or risk of abuse or neglect.
Doors open for everyone
PS Freeman added: “We’re an inclusive organisation – we won’t turn around and say ‘You’ve been in trouble with the police’, we welcome cadets from any background, social group, gender, ethnicity, ability or disability.
The BTP cadet scheme is based in Islington. However, its national remit means it has cadet units nationwide in places such as Birmingham and York.
The force is also hoping to set up a new unit in Glasgow towards the end of the year.
PS Freeman said he found it interesting that “most young people are quite well-informed about current affairs” and will ask “difficult questions about policing and knife crime and inclusion.”
As cadet coordinator, he emphasises the importance for young people to enjoy themselves and have fun.
“People learn best when they’re having fun,” he said.
For more information about the BTP Cadet scheme, please contact PS Freeman at cadets@btp.police.uk
