Dorset Police has worked closely with Corfe Hills School as well as Wey Valley Academy in Weymouth to offer up to 60 additional cadet spaces to those aged between 13 and 17, split equally across the two areas.

The scheme, which opened its first unit in Bournemouth in 2019 and currently has 30 cadets, was designed to build bridges between young people, the community and prevent crime at a grassroots level.

Between June and September 2021, cadets volunteered 177 hours of their time to help their communities. This included taking part in a ‘Dragons Den’-style activity to present solutions to issues relating to anti-social behaviour, marshalling the Bubble Rush charity fun run at Upton Country Park, and supporting test purchase operations for a national knife crime initiative at local retailers.

Inspector Alyssa Forrest, who manages the Dorset Police cadet scheme, said: “It’s a really exciting time for the Dorset Volunteer Police Cadets now that we’re able to meet face-to-face again. We’re pleased that we can give even more young people the opportunity to get involved through our partnerships with Corfe Hills School and Wey Valley Academy.

“Being a police cadet is not about becoming a police officer. It’s about supporting and doing something good for your communities. It’s a chance for young people to challenge themselves, gain confidence and grow.

“We’ve had a busy summer with our existing cadets, and our new units will be able to get involved in even more exciting activities over the coming months.”

David Sidwick, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I have seen for myself how cadets at the Bournemouth cadet unit are developing confidence and life skills, such as communication and team building, while also playing important roles in their communities.

“The fact that two more units are being set up is great news for young people in Poole and Weymouth, who can also now take advantage of these incredible opportunities. The police cadets’ scheme can really turn young lives around and having campaigned for more cadets I would be keen to support even more units opening across our county.”

Visit www.dorset.police.uk/policecadets for more information about volunteering with the Dorset Volunteer Police Cadets. Follow @CadetsDorset on Twitter to stay up to date.