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| This was my first large documentary project. It is an attempt to record something of the final year's intake of the Metropolitan Police Cadet Centre, Hendon, London before its closure in 1993 after some forty years of operation. Not to be confused with the Training Centre at Hendon, which trains new police officers, the Cadet Centre provided a year's bridge for those wishing to join the Met, but who were too young. Anyone Passing Out successfully from the Cadets was accepted automatically for training at the Training Centre. The decision to close the Cadets down was given as purely financial, but this makes no sense since a copper who had started as a Cadet almost always stayed in the force until retirement and some 60% of those of senior rank across the country are ex-Hendon Cadets. This demonstrates that the resources invested in the Cadets were exceptionaly good value for money and I hope that a Commisioner, present or future, has the wisdom and courage to recreate the Cadets. I would like to thank, once again, the staff at all ranks and, particularly the Cadets, for their help and allowing me to photograph them.
The 27 photographs here were exhibited at the Barbican Centre Library, London in April and May 1995. All photographs © Barry Leighton FRPS "To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?" |
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To 27 Photographs
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