Police Cadets were introduced to Essex County Constabulary (as it was then called) in 1951 and they still exist today, though the scheme is slightly different. The programme provided training for young people who wanted to become Police Constables when they reach 18. Cadets were given development classes, police training and an introduction to the Essex Police leadership and working practices.
To begin with Police Cadets worked on attachments at different stations but on 20th October 1969 the Police Cadet School at HQ was opened by Princess Anne. The Cadet course was now residential with Cadets staying in dormitories for the duration of the course. Each floor of the school had its own students, although all were male as girls were not included in the residential scheme. Instead, they worked on attachment to divisions and at Chelmsford College. Mrs Dibley, Cadet in the 1960s, says “we were required to do two days of college learning many different skills whilst I also managed to pass two O-levels.”
Mr Armstrong, Cadet in the 1960s, tells us his experience:
“To be a Cadet was a great privilege and if you were a sportsman it helped with the course, in my day boxing was a particular favourite. We went to work for four days a week working 9 to 5 but one day of the four was spent in college. We learnt to type in college and to be able to touch type helped me personally with my reports because I could hand them in quicker than any other officer”.
He was paid £2 a week, around £60-£70 today.
An article in The Essex Police Magazine, 1969, describes the Cadet Corps programme and Princess Anne’s visit. For accessibility we have transcribed the article in full below the image.
“The 15th of September 1969 is a date which the Cadets will remember for the rest of their lives for this was the day when they began their lives as a new generation of Police Cadets at the new Police Cadet School in Chelmsford. This day was a nerve-racking one for all concerned at the School since virtually everyone was a stranger and nobody knew exactly where any specific place was in the building. This last point proved to be a bit of an ordeal at times.
After the first week at the School people got to know each other and gradually settled down to work. Very soon after our arrival we cadets were treated to our first sample of the pleasures of drill and also of bulling our boots and uniforms. Probably the thing which hit us most in the early part of the term was getting our hair cut. However, most people are now getting used to having short hair. Now after nearly six months of excellent supervision on the part of Inspector Fuller, Deputy Commandant at the Cadet School, both our turnout and our drill are gradually improving. In fact, we did manage to put on a small drill display to welcome Princess Anne when she officially opened the Cadet School on the 20th October 1969.
From the cadets’ point of view the day of the Royal Visit was a day of excitement, worry and disappointment. The disappointment being that none of the newsreels of the visit showed anything more than Princess Anne careering her way around the skid pan. Ten cadets were presented to Princess Anne and these cadets were lucky enough to lunch with the Princess.
After the Royal Visit life at the Cadet School once again settled down to a normal routine of academic and physical education. The cadets (including the girl cadets) obtain their academic training at the Chelmsford College of Further Education and a variety of ‘O’ level, ‘A’ level and O.N.C. courses are being studied.
The cadets’ physical training is completely separate from their academic work. The cadets go to the college on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of each week. In addition, some cadets go to the college on Friday mornings whilst others study at the Cadet School. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings cadets have a compulsory “quiet hour” during which homework is done.
The cadets’ physical training takes place on Wednesday and on Friday afternoons. Also, the cadets have an early morning P.T. session at 7.15am every day. The physical activities which are done include a great variety of sports and since Christmas boxing has become part of the cadets’ training. Most cadets get at least two hours’ swimming in the week and during this time non-swimmers are taught to swim and swimmers are taught life-saving under the supervision of PC Mike Dray, the School’s Physical Training Instructor. Already nearly half of the cadets hold the Bronze Medallion Award for life-saving and also some of the cadets hold distance and personal survival awards.
Since the cadets spend from Sunday night to Friday evening at the Cadet School a considerable amount of attention has gone into devising a programme of evening activities for them. These activities combine both active and non-active pastimes and there is sufficient variety to enable each cadet to find one of his liking. The School has a well equipped dark-room and its uses and other aspects of photography are taught by the School’s Warden, Mr. Reeve. Mr. J. Edwards is in charge of the well equipped workshop and it is he who teaches the cadets motor mechanics.
Since we have been at the School we have been taught many interesting things. However, probably one of the most interesting was first-aid and I am pleased to say that every cadet in the Cadet School now holds a first-aid certificate.
In November of 1969 all of the cadets went on a camping exercise at East Mersea. The exercise was during the week-end of the 29th November and, unfortunately for us, the weather chose to turn vicious and consequently we went camping in the snow. The object of the exercise was to capture six prisoners or cadets who had ‘escaped’ and despite the cold most people ended up saying that they enjoyed the week-end.”
Mr Dray was a PE instructor in 1958; he said:
“The fitness (for cadets) may have been a little harder for today’s cadets. Entry requirements consisted of chin-ups, rope climbing, sit-ups and to finish a mile run. If they were successful and took part in the course a number of activities were available for the cadets out of hours like basketball club. Every Wednesday I would take the class for their fitness lesson. They were required to swim so we would teach them how to swim by the end of their first term and aim for the bronze award.”
Today the Volunteer Police Cadets are supported by the Police, and open to young people aged 13-18 from across the UK’s diverse communities, irrespective of their background or financial circumstances, and including those vulnerable to crime or social exclusion.
The Volunteer Police Cadet programme offers a fantastic variety of opportunities to the young people involved, many of which would otherwise be well beyond their expectations.
The aim is to prepare young people for their future by providing varied activities and opportunities to develop qualifications, enhance inter-personal skills and confidence, and achieve a sense of pride through supporting community policing.
In addition, the programme is intended to enhance Cadets’ opportunities for further education, employment and training.