Kent Police have launched their Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) programme for young people.

Applications are now open for the Maidstone, Medway, and Tonbridge districts.

It is hoped that the police will be able to roll out the programme to all 13 districts of Kent in the future.

The VPC is a uniformed voluntary branch of Kent Police, which those aged between 13 and 17 are welcome to apply for.

The scheme is supported by Alan Pughsley, Kent's chief constable, and Matthew Scott, the Kent police and crime commissioner.

Kent Police wants to inspire young people through this programme, whilst giving them a practical understanding of policing.

Activities offered on the programme will allow the cadets to develop qualifications, enhance their inter-personal skills and confidence, and achieve a sense of pride through supporting community policing.

Teenagers from all backgrounds are welcome to apply, irrespective of their backgrounds, financial circumstances, and including those who are considered vulnerable to crime or social exclusion.

This scheme will be run by volunteers from within Kent Police, as well as other external groups, and the activities will be run from non-police venues, such as schools.

Cadets will take part in these activities on a weekly basis.

Chief Constable Pughsley said: "Many forces across the country offer a Volunteer Police Cadets programme, and I whole-heartedly support the launch in Kent.

"The programme has been developed to encourage young people to positively interact with their communities, and offer the cadets opportunities that they may not usually have."

Matthew Scott, Kent's police and crime commissioner, said: "It's really important to provide young people from all backgrounds with positive ways to engage with the police, and the success of cadet programmes in other areas told me that this was something we should be exploring here in Kent.

"Within weeks of taking office I allocated £72,000 of funding over two years to make it happen."

He continued: "It's about providing new opportunities for young people, and also giving them a fantastic insight into what policing is really like.

"I'm very pleased that recruitment is now open, and I look forward to meeting up with the first recruits in due course."