Volunteer Police Cadets Collaboration

This paper seeks approval to collaborate with the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Devon and Cornwall in developing the Volunteer Police Cadets across the UK. The Volunteer Police Cadets provides opportunities for engagement with young people, especially those from crime vulnerable backgrounds. It allows young people to make a positive contribution to their communities through supporting operational policing, crime prevention and community safety.

The DMPC is asked to approve the collaboration agreement between the MPS and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Devon and Cornwall. This will allow grant funding of £69,500 to be transferred to the MPS and further develop Volunteer Police Cadets across the UK.

1. Introduction and background

1.1 The National Volunteer Police Cadets (NVPC) team seeks to support all UK police forces to be able to create, support and expand their cadet units. The Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) is the primary engagement and diversion programme of the MPS. Over 5,000 cadets volunteer on a regular basis throughout London to support operational policing, crime prevention and community safety.

1.2 In April 2016, the PCC for Devon and Cornwall on behalf of the NVPC team was successful in bidding for £1.8m from the Police Innovation Fund (PIF) for 2 years to deliver a national digital platform, volunteer leader training and provide pump-priming grants to forces to support national VPC expansion and ongoing programme costs.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. The VPC budget for this financial year has been reduced and this has inevitably had an impact on the programme and the extent and range of activities that are offered. Without further funding units will have to undertake fundraising to be able to offer cadets additional opportunities.

3. Financial Comments

3.1 The PCC for Devon and Cornwall has that requested English and Welsh forces collaborate with them as part of the national development strategy including the distribution of the £1.8m PIF grant. The funding provision to each police force is £2,000 for new senior VPC units and £1,500 for new junior units, which equates to £69,500 for 44 eligible MPS units.

3.2 The grant funding will provide additional capacity for the MPS and will not impact on the current budget for the Volunteer Police Cadet programme.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. Under paragraph 4.5 of the MOPAC Scheme of Consent and Delegation approval is required by the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime for all collaboration agreements under s22 Police Act 1996 where the Act requires it.

4.2. There will be a written agreement between MOPAC and the PCC for Devon and Cornwall to formalise the arrangement. The agreement will be published under the Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011.

5. Equality Comments

5.1. The VPC Programme has a stated aim of including at least 25% cadets from crime vulnerable backgrounds and has consistently over-achieved on this target with the figure currently sitting at 34% across the MPS. Crime vulnerable cadets are recruited and identified using the Department for Children, Schools and Families (now the Department of Education) approved definition of Vulnerability signed off in 2011.

5.2. The additional funding will support the MPS’s objectives to expand opportunities to disadvantaged young people.

6. Background/supporting papers

6.1. None.