Volunteer Police Cadets Safeguarding Policy

1. Statement of Policy

Dyfed-Powys Police recognise that all children and young people have the right to be protected. Dyfed-Powys Police strives to ensure that everyone involved in the Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) programme are safeguarded and protected from harm, whatever their needs and circumstances. Dyfed-Powys Police acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard and promote the well-being of all children, young people, Officers, Staff and Police Support Volunteers.   

We are committed to ensuring that we prioritise the wellbeing of our Cadets and those involved in the VPC programme in all that we do and that we are fully accountable. Our aims are to ensure that all our activities and engagement within the wider community are held to the highest standards of safeguarding practice and that the programme is child and young person centred.

The procedures outlined apply to all elements of VPC activity, including weekly cadet sessions, offsite trips and any residential or overnight activities. Whilst every attempt has been made to cover a wide range of situations, it is recognised that the guidance cannot cover all eventualities. There may be times when professional judgements are made in situations not covered by this document, or which directly contravene the guidance given by the employer. It is expected in these circumstances Officers, Staff and Police Support Volunteers will always advise their line manager, VPC Unit Coordinator or VPC Local Responsible Officer and Designated Safeguarding Officer of the justification for any such action already taken or proposed.

This policy applies to all those involved with the Dyfed-Powys Police Volunteer Police Cadet (VPC) programme.  This includes all categories of Dyfed-Powys Police Officers and Staff, whether full-time, part-time, permanent, fixed-term, temporary or seconded staff.  It also includes Police Support Volunteers and any person who comes into contact with the Volunteer Police Cadets.

 

 

2. Policy Scope

The purpose of this policy is:

• To ensure that all Dyfed-Powys Police Officers and Staff, Police Support Volunteers, Operational Policing Board members and external agencies are clear about their safeguarding responsibility, in terms of recognising, responding to and referring any reported allegations, disclosures or concerns, in accordance with the Dyfed-Powys Police Volunteer Police Cadets safeguarding process.
• To ensure that everyone is clear about their responsibility to follow the correct procedures laid out to protect children, young people and those involved with the Volunteer Police Cadets from harm and to create a safe space for children and young people to have fun, be challenged and develop skills for life.
• To create a culture where the welfare and wellbeing of everyone involved in the Volunteer Police Cadet programme is paramount.

It is the primary responsibility of anyone involved with Dyfed-Powys Volunteer Police Cadet programme to safeguard the moral, psychological and physical welfare of children regardless of gender, religion, race, ability, disability, sexuality and social background by protecting them from any form of physical, emotional and sexual abuse or neglect.

Dyfed-Powys VPC aims to ensure that our VPC programme operates under the National Police Chiefs’ Council supported framework, sharing the common aims and principles of the VPC across England and Wales. 

The Force does not act in loco parentis for Cadets under the age of 18 years and parental responsibility remains with Cadets’ parents, guardians or carers in accordance with Section 2 of the Children Act 1989.  The only exception to this is in the event of a Cadet requiring immediate medical treatment and the delay in contacting the parent, guardian or carer would prejudice recovery. This permission must be documented in the Health and Permission form by the parent / guardian of every Cadet prior to commencing with Dyfed-Powys Volunteer Police Cadets. 

If the guardian of a Cadet is designated as the Local Authority Social Services Department but the Cadet has been in long term care of foster parents or become very close to their foster family then for minor issues, Unit Leads should consider whether it is more appropriate to contact foster parents in the first instance. Any serious issues will need to be discussed with Social Services and the VPC Unit Coordinator to ensure that they are in possession of the details of a point of contact within Social Services for the Cadet. The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is in further education does not change the young person’s entitlement to services or protection under the Children Act 1989.        

Dyfed-Powys Volunteer Police Cadet Procedures provides information in relation to the following areas:

• Health and Safety
• Safeguarding
• Staff and Volunteers
• Focus on Young People
• Data Protection
• Leadership and Governance
• Diversity, Equality and Inclusion    

 

3.  Powers and Policy/Legal Requirements

The following legislation is relevant to this policy, either because it has influenced its introduction and/or its content:

• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975
• The Police Act 1997
• The Human Rights Act 1998 and the United Nations Convention the Rights of the Child
• Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Children Act 1989
• The Children Act 2004
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Equality Act 2010 • Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018
• Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015
• NVPC Safeguarding Policy
• Wales Safeguarding Procedures
• Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales

Relevant Force Policies/Procedures:

• Dyfed-Powys Volunteer Police Cadets Safe to Operate Standards Manual of Guidance
• Dyfed-Powys Volunteer Police Cadets Safeguarding Procedures
• Dyfed-Powys Volunteer Police Cadets Safer Recruitment Procedures
• Dyfed-Powys Volunteer Police Cadets Safer Recruitment Policy
• Dyfed-Powys Police Equality and Diversity Strategy
• Dyfed-Powys Police Health & Safety Policy
• Dyfed-Powys Police Data Protection Policy

 

4.  Options and Contingencies

As a result of the National VPC’s High Level Review of the Cadet scheme it was deemed necessary for each Police Force that operate a VPC programme to nominate a Designated Responsible Officer (DRO). The DRO will be the accountable person for the safe delivery of their VPC as a regulated youth activity.  

The Assistant Chief Constable is the nominated Designated Responsible Officer (DRO) within Dyfed-Powys Police and is responsible for the force VPC programme on behalf of the Chief Constable. This role oversees the delivery of the VPC in terms of governance and to ensure that Dyfed-Powys VPC programme meets the VPC Safe to Operate Standards.

Volunteer Police Cadet Governance within Dyfed-Powys:

Designated Responsible Officer (DRO)	Assistant Chief Constable
VPC Strategic Lead	Superintendent, Prevention
VPC Operational Lead	Chief Inspector, Central Prevention Hub
Designated Safeguarding Officer	Inspector, Central Prevention Hub

 

Dyfed-Powys VPC programme works with the National VPC to ensure our programme operates under the National Police Chiefs’ Council supported framework outlined in the UK Youth Safe Spaces Framework for the Volunteer Police Cadets, launched by the National Volunteer Police Cadets as the Safe to Operate Standards. These standards are the minimum standards expected of a Police Force in the operation of a Volunteer Police Cadet scheme. All safeguarding issues, concerns, incidents and disclosures will be shared with the National Safeguarding Manager to provide oversight and ensure that lessons learnt are shared across the VPC network. The National VPC Safeguarding Manager is also available to offer advice and support.

Whilst every attempt has been made to cover a wide range of situations, it is recognised that this policy cannot cover all eventualities. There may be times when professional judgements are made in situations not covered by this document, or which directly contravene the guidance given by the Force. It is expected in these circumstances, Officers, Staff and Police Support Volunteers will always advise their line manager, VPC Unit Coordinator or VPC Local Responsible Officer and VPC Designated Safeguarding Officer of the justification for any such action already taken or proposed.  

 

5.  Take action and review

This policy and the associated guidance will be reviewed initially after 1 year with biennial reviews thereafter. This is to ensure the policy is effective, fit for purpose and whether there have been any changes in guidance / legislation. The policy is operated in conjunction with the Volunteer Police Cadets Safe to Operate Standards.

The Policy is monitored by the Designated Safeguarding Officer (Inspector, Central Prevention Hub), and amendments or additions must be implemented via the Dyfed-Powys Police Citizens in Policing Group and the Operational Policing Board.

For any queries in relation to this policy or the associated procedures document contact the Chief Inspector, Central Prevention Hub, Dyfed-Powys Police Headquarters.

CODE OF ETHICS CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

This policy has been drafted in accordance with the Code of Ethics and has been reviewed on the basis of its content and the supporting evidence and it is deemed compliant with that Code and the principles underpinning it.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

This policy has been drafted in accordance with the Human Rights Act and has been reviewed on the basis of its content and the supporting evidence and it is deemed compliant with that Act and the principles underpinning it.

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Section 4 of the Equality Act 2010 sets out the protected characteristics that qualify for protection under the Act as follows: Age; Disability; Gender Reassignment; Marriage and Civil Partnership; Pregnancy and Maternity; Race; Religion or Belief; Sex; Sexual Orientation.

The public sector equality duty places a proactive legal requirement on public bodies to have regard, in the exercise of their functions, to the need to:

• eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other conduct that is unlawful under the Act;
• advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;
• foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

The equality duty applies to all protected characteristics with the exception of Marriage and Civil Partnership, to which only the duty to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination applies.

Carrying out an equality impact assessment involves systematically assessing the likely or actual effects of policies on people in respect of all the protected characteristics set out above. An equality impact assessment should be carried out on any policy that is relevant to the public sector equality duty. 

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT COMPLETED: July 2024