Police Report

Police Report December 2011.

Thankfully, following the increase I reported last month the crime figures returned to normal in December:

Last week I attended the Annual Careers Convention at Churchill School. Whilst this is always a fantastic opportunity for me to meet young people, this year there was an added interest.  Avon and Somerset Police are trialling a new Police Cadet Scheme in North Bristol and if successful it will be rolled out across the Force with North Somerset being the next district to set a scheme up. So what are Police Cadets I hear you ask?

Police Cadets will be run like many other Youth Organisations such as the Scouts. It will be open to young people between the ages of 14 and 17. They will meet regularly and will receive Police based training and have input from specialist departments. They will patrol with either a Police Officer or PCSO and will be very much a part of Neighbourhood Policing. They will be asked to carry out crime prevention leaflet drops, property marking sessions and to represent young people at large Community events such as The Balloon Fiesta or the Carnivals and this week there will be 3 North Bristol Cadets with me at the Careers Convention. It will be a Uniformed and disciplined organisation run almost entirely by Volunteers from regular Police Staff. We will be looking for Sponsorship to provide the Uniforms. In North Bristol this is being done by John Lewis who provided £1800 for 30 Uniforms. Each Cadet will be asked to put £20 towards their own Uniform and provide their own footwear.

This will be the perfect way for anyone interested in a future career in the Police to get first hand experience in Policing. Applicants will be vetted and have to show a genuine interest in Police work. I will hopefully be taking the lead in North Somerset so can say from the outset that we will be looking for future Police Officers, Crime Scene Investigators etc. We will be based in Churchill but open to all North Somerset students, not just those attending ChurchillSchool.

It is VERY early days at the moment but I would ask that should anyone be interested they contact by email at raymond.bradley@avonandsomerset.police.uk to register their interest.

P.C. 615 Ray Bradley QPM

Community Police Officer for Blagdon, Burrington, Butcombe,

Langford, Churchill, Regil, Felton and Winford.