User talk:220.240.109.182

Police Cadets
No mention is made by Essex Police of the innovation in 1950 by the then Essex County Constabulary of the employment by them of youths as Police Cadets. I just just emailed their museum as follow: In 1950, I believe I was one of the first Police Cadets to be employed by the then Essex County Constabulary at your HQ in Chelmsford. This was a new innovation and probably the first by Essex Police, so do you have any record of this new venture please. Just before I left school at Clacton Secondary Modern school I was asked what I wanted to be and replied a Policeman. The master subsequently informed me that the Police HQ at Chelmsford was about to employ Police Cadets, and I was accepted. On leaving school I travelled by train from Clacton to Chelmsford and walked up Springfield Rd every day for about 6 months, until Chief Inspector Bill Draper in the CID office found lodging for me with My Jolly who was a Storeman in your uniform store. Initially we did not have a uniform for about 6 months, and below is the official photo of me with the unique forage cap. I was employed until age 18 when I had to enlist for the then compulsory National Service and spent 3 years as a regular in in the Military Police. On demob I joined the Met and in 1958 was recruited by and joined he Victoria Police in Australia. Denis Underdown – now Downunder.