POLICE forces in the region are being urged to check their safeguarding arrangements around Volunteer Police Cadet programmes following a number of complaints..

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has written to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) while they are managing an investigation into a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) constable following complaints about his conduct in the cadet programme. The allegations are of a sexual nature.

There is a similar investigation being carried out into the behaviour of a Metropolitan Police sergeant.

IOPC Deputy Director General Ian Todd said: "We are sufficiently concerned by these two referrals to ask all police forces in England and Wales to urgently review their own Volunteer Police Cadet programmes to ensure they have robust safeguarding procedures in place.

"Since we raised these concerns, the NPCC lead for safeguarding has confirmed that he has contacted all chief constables to make sure this is prioritised.

“The Volunteer Police Cadet programmes benefit thousands of young people and it’s not our intention to alarm them or their families; I must stress that the two investigations are unconnected and we have no information to indicate this may be a wider problem.

"However, some of the evidence emerging from these investigations indicates that there may have been opportunities to act sooner on the allegations that we are now investigating."

NPCC lead for Police Cadets, Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer: “Volunteer police cadet schemes offer young people the opportunity to learn new skills and build connections with their communities. Police forces are responsible for ensuring these schemes meet the highest possible standards of safeguarding, and all adult volunteers are checked and vetted by their local forces prior to being able to participate and support cadet unit activities.

"No young person involved in the police cadets should be subject to abuse of any kind and I urge anyone who has been, or anyone with concerns or information, to report it.”

If you, or someone you know, have experienced inappropriate behaviour within a Volunteer Police Cadet Programme you can contact the IOPC on 0300 020 0096 or cadets@policeconduct.gov.uk with details.