Crimebusting cadets get their reward!

A TEAM of young Rotherham police cadets have received an award for crime prevention and charity work carried out across the borough.

The group of 13 teenagers from Rotherham’s Police Cadets have scooped a prestigious Certificate of Accreditation in this year’s national Sheriff's Awards.

They are the first group of police cadets to land the honour which aims to recognise and honour a person or organisation that has shown courage and initiative in protecting people, property or liberty.

The cadets were nominated for an award by their supervisor, Pc Jeannine Waller, following a year of successful safety projects and crime prevention work across Rotherham.

Pc Waller said: “The cadets enrol as volunteers with South Yorkshire Police from the age of 16 and each intake runs for 18 months.

“This group of cadets have been especially dedicated in providing positive voluntary work in the community and have shown great motivation working on projects outside of their regular weekly meetings.

“Although the cadets often work or attend college, many still give up their free time to work weekends and evenings and participate in a number of initiative which benefit a wide range of people across the borough.”

The cadets, who received their award from the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Shaun Wright, at Rotherham Town Hall on Wednesday (7), are: Lead Police Cadets Abbie Lyon and Laura Tompkins; and Police Cadets Abaid Hussain; Madhia Ajais; Alex Small; Jamie Ellison; Josh Ashton; Zahreen Kauser; Sohaib Rehamen; Ellis Bethell; Charlotte Bassindale; Joe Binley; and Jonathan Boswell.

The cadets’ community work has seen them arrange crime prevention talks for senior and vulnerable members of the community, deliver presentations to young people on issues such as substance abuse and participate in a number of events for the Help for Heroes charity.

The cadets have also shown their support to SAFE@LAST, which helps vulnerable young runaways, by staging a a number of fund-raising events raising over £700.

Lead Cadet Abbie Lyon said: “It is a great honour to receive recognition of the work we have achieved during our involvement with the South Yorkshire Police Cadet scheme.”