A group of eight police cadets, Supervisors and Police spent the weekend in Leicester’s German twin-town, Krefeld, and swapped their police berets for driver’s helmets as they took part in the town’s annual go-cart race, the ‘soapbox derby’.
In Krefeld, the cadets visited the local police department, met with the Oberbürgermeister (the Lord Mayor) and designed a Leicestershire Police soapbox ready to race in the derby on Sunday (3 September).
Volunteer Police Cadet Josh Stone, 14, said: “I feel very lucky to have visited Krefeld with the cadets. I had an amazing time from start to finish, but especially enjoyed the soapbox derby. We managed to get the go-cart to go quite quickly, and finished in fourth place overall. “It was also really good to visit Krefeld Police, and find out about policing in a different country. They took us on a tour of the site and let us try out some of their protective gear too.”
Volunteer Police Cadet Lydia Chamberlain, 16, also went on the trip and said: “It was a brilliant experience and I got a real insight into Krefeld policing and culture. I had great fun making friends with cadets from Germany and Poland, and we’ve swapped details so hopefully we can stay in touch on social media. The trip was definitely a success, and an experience I’ll never forget.”
The trip followed a challenge set in June 2015 by a visiting youth group from Krefeld, but was only made possible due to some generous funding from the City of Leicester European Twinning Association (CLETA) and the International Policing Association (IPA).
PC Simon O’Connell organised the trip, and said: “As an active member of the IPA it was brilliant to help the Leicester and Krefeld branches reconnect. “I am also thrilled to have been able to involve the cadets for a second year running, and hope that they will help to maintain the relationship we hold with our German twin-town. The cadets have made both German and Polish friends, and this gave the cadets a chance to learn new cultures and meet people from different counties.”
The cadets will be sending messages of thanks to those involved in the trip, and we'd would like to thank the IPA and CLETA for making the trip possible.
Simon O'Connell of 5 Region Leicestershire Branch and Ellie Jeffries of Leicestershire Police
