Local Volunteer Police Cadets Are Honoured

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The Met's Cadet of the Year event

Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) from across London attended the Met's Cadet of the Year Awards recently, with parents, families and guests at a special awards ceremony in central London.

Two of Merton's outstanding young people, 15-year-old Sam Watson, from Morden, and Jordan Corps, aged 11, from Mitcham, were presented with Merton's Cadet of the Year & Junior Cadet of the Year Awards, by Borough Commander Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Macleod.

Sam is Deputy Head Cadet of the senior Merton VPC unit, based at Rutlish School in Merton Park. In his two years service, Sam has volunteered hundreds of hours public service volunteering, supporting operational policing events, work in the community, adventure training and much more. Sam is a very positive and engaging leader, who encourages younger Cadets and assists Adult Staff running activities.

Sam said: "I can't believe I won this, thanks very much to all my Staff and Cadet colleagues, I'm just really pleased to have this opportunity."

Jordan is a founder member of the new Merton Junior Volunteer Police Cadets, based at St Marks Academy in Mitcham. A Year 7 student, Jordan has worked hard with consistent attendance, to look smart in uniform, take an active role in all events and learn about police work.

At the 2014 Remembrance Sunday Parade in Mitcham - the first public parade attended by the Junior VPC - Jordan volunteered to head their contingent and lay their wreath at the Cricket Green War Memorial, alongside his senior Cadet colleague, Sam Watson, who laid the Senior VPC wreath.

Assistant Commissioner Helen King, Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Stephen Greenhalgh, as well as Borough Commanders and other VIPs attended the ceremony to celebrate the achievements.

Opening the proceedings, AC Helen King said: "Cadets do amazing work - their enthusiasm for policing, their pride in the uniform and the contribution they make are an example to us all. They are the future and the ceremony was a well earned celebration of which I was proud to be a part off."

Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Stephen Greenhalgh closed the ceremony with a few words saying: "We adore you. Everything about the cadets is wholly positive and very impressive. I've personally been at two major landmarks - the launch of the juniors and now the first ever volunteer police cadet awards. Cadets are so important to London that it is absolutely right to recognise their achievements."

Merton Borough Commander Det Ch Supt Stuart Macleod said: "We are very proud of everything out Volunteer Police Cadets achieve, and I’m very pleased to present these Awards to Sam and Jordan today and they truly deserve them. We have great young people in Merton, making a positive difference and contribution every day”. 

The Volunteer Police Cadets is a uniformed youth organisation run by the Metropolitan Police Service, with units across all boroughs. For young people aged 13 - 18, it is not about joining the police, but is everything about encouraging personal development and achievement, positive community service and opportunity.

The Junior Volunteer Police Cadets invites young people aged 10-13 years old to take part in a programme which will teach them life skills, social responsibility and help them to build positive relationships with the police.

For more information about the VPC in Merton, please see www.met.police.uk/cadets or contact PC Tim Mann, Volunteer Police Cadets and Youth Engagement at Wimbledon Police Station (tim.mann@met.police.uk).

February 6, 2015