Passing Out Cop School

Today at Cop School - at last, the big day's here for the cadets.

Quick...march!

But they need to prove they're good enough

-if they're going to take part.

Well, I've got some good news and some bad news.

And before that,

what they DON'T know is they've got one last challenge...

Get in! Go!

It's time to give our cadets their marching orders.

I'm Rav Wilding. This is Cop School.

Six wannabe coppers...

..meet the world's oldest police force.

Their mission? To complete a unique training course.

But are these cadets tough enough

to cut it in the Met?

Our six cadets began their journeys from all across the UK -

Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton,

Dundee, Cardiff, and Liverpool...

..and arrived in London to join up at Cop School.

Over the weeks, the cadets have tackled training...

ALL: Yes, sir!

..from police boats and car crashes...

..to dogs and public order riots.

But despite succeeding in some gruelling and testing challenges

that no-one their age has ever done before...

..it's not over yet.

Their journey ends here, today,

just as training ends for every single police recruit -

in the Metropolitan Police passing out parade,

in front of the Metropolitan Police's Commissioner,

Sir Paul Stephenson.

Succeed, and they will become the youngest cadets

ever to have taken part.

Fail, and the weeks of hard work could be wasted.

It's 6.45am,

and I'm outside the hotel

where the cadets have been staying.

They arrived here late last night ahead of their big day today.

Now, although they've been at home for the last few weeks

and away from Cop School, they haven't had a chance to slack off -

especially as Drill Sergeant Pete Clements

has sent them all a video message.

Hello, cadets. Remember me(?)

Sergeant Clements was the scary person that they met

-on their first day.

-Quick...march!

He taught them how to march.

Raise your chins, everyone. Look up!

Now...he's back!

I'm here to remind you, it's your passing out parade

coming up - I need you to keep in step.

I'm providing you with some words of command

on an MP3, for you to practise to, in readiness for your big day.

So don't let me down. Understood?

-Yes, sir.

-Yes, sir.

Understood?!

VOICE ON MP3: 'Ready...!'

To make sure they get their marching spot on,

the cadets have been practising from the minute they wake up

to the minute they go to bed.

'Left, right... Left, right...

'Left, right... Left, right...

'Left, right... Left, right...

'Left, right... Left, right...

'Left, right... Left...'

LAUGHTER

Well, after all that marching, I'm not surprised they're tired -

but they can forget laying in,

because the cadets have got work to do.

PHONE RINGS

-Hello?

-Ah, Sam! Wakey-wakey.

-'It's Rav.'

-Hello, Rav.

Right, listen. In less than two hours, you have got to be

'at the parade ground.'

Your uniform has got to be ironed, your boots have got to be polished,

'everything immaculate - and that includes you.'

PHONE RINGS

-Hello?

-Are you and the girls up?

-Er, yeah...

'I want you all ready and outside by the Cop School van in 60 minutes.'

-An hour?!

-Yes, Megan, an hour. Clock's ticking!

-'Bye-bye!'

-Bye.

-See you.

Megan's moaning.

Come on, let's go!

There can't be anything wrong. It has to all be perfect.

Got my gloves, lovely. Tie...

I'm really excited.

I'm looking forward to meeting the judge,

because I haven't seen him for a very long time.

I can't remember what to do...

I HAVE been practising.

I have done lots of practising at home.

If you don't do that right, I think he's going to let one go at you.

Oh, no...

I feel like we're all good enough to pass,

but that's up to him, isn't it?

I'm actually quite sad about today, cos it's the end of the whole thing.

The trip from their hotel to the Peel Centre

won't take the cadets long, but it seems an age

since they first began their Cop School journey

all those weeks ago.

-Morning.

-Hi...

'When they arrived, they weren't the cadets you see today.'

Well, morning, cadets. My name's Rav.

'But once they were sworn in by the Cop School magistrate...'

ALL: I do solemnly declare that...

'..and were given their uniforms...

'..this lot knew they'd arrived.'

Whilst they LOOKED like cadets, their journey

had only just begun - and over the coming weeks

they experienced many sides of police life.

The cuffs come out, and I push the two together.

Straight away, the cadets had to show confidence

to learn how to caution, and cuff...

Put them out to the side for me...

..and then nick some Cop School bike thieves in the first challenge.

Nice job!

When they joined the Met Dog Unit, Junior overcame his fear

of biters and barkers...

and the team successfully handled sniffer dogs

to track down stolen cash at a safe house.

We've found something!

-With the Traffic Cops...

-Naughty boy!

..the boys caught a speeding motorist on the laser gun

and got her a caution.

-Just quite happy that we caught her.

-Yeah.

Can you please put your phone away?

While at a roadside collision

Megan led her team to the correct verdict in their investigation.

Her tax disc is out of date, and she has no insurance details.

And when the cadets entered the world of crime scene examination -

CSE - Rebecca's observation skills made her a great asset

to the team, as they painstakingly gathered vital evidence.

We've found some hair in the bedroom, yeah?

Thank you!

All the cadets learned about verbal dominance,

with the Met Police Public Order Branch.

Junction straight across! Go!

And Nathan was team leader

as they took on rioters when a crowd got out of hand.

ANGRY SHOUTING

Next up, the cadets joined the River Police -

and during a high-speed chase down the Thames,

Sam was the man as they apprehended the criminal

and read him the caution.

-I hate you, coppers!

-That's our job, so...

And finally, when the cadets joined the British Transport Police,

they nominated Jade to lead them in a tough challenge

-on London's underground network.

-Look over there!

Thank you very much for your time...

And it's not over yet.

The cadets are returning to where they first started,

and hoping they can complete

the most important leg of their Cop School journey.

-Cadets, good morning!

-ALL: Hello...

-How you doing?

'Throughout their Cop School training, Jade, Junior, Rebecca,

'Megan, Nathan and Sam were pushed hard to succeed by their mentors,

'and I've got some messages from them for the cadets.'

-Gather round...

-'Hello, cadets.'

I was with you at the beginning of your training,

and I hear you've gone on and done really, really well, and excelled.

I want to wish you all the best,

and good luck in this afternoon's parade.

Hi, cadets. A quick message from me, Sergeant Moore, and Boycie.

If you can control your feet

as well as you did the dogs, you'll have a fantastic day.

And here's a quick message from Boycie.

CADETS LAUGH

Morning, cadets. Sergeant Merrett from the Traffic Police.

You really impressed me when you had your day with us,

and I hope you had a smashing time too.

Good luck in the parade today, and don't forget your hats...Megan!

Morning, cadets. Sergeant Nash, Public Order Branch.

When you were with us you dealt with petrol bombs, rioters

and best of all, the fitness training. Well done to all of you.

Good morning, cadets. It's PC Hipkin here from the Marine Policing Unit.

Last time I saw you, Jade, Megan, and Junior were waist-deep in mud.

I hope you're a bit cleaner today. Best of luck to you all.

Hello there, cadets.

Sergeant Robertson here.

ALL: Whoo!

You all stepped up to the mark for me.

I'm sure you'll all be superstars. And good luck.

-There you go. You like that?

-Thanks...

Well, good luck today. Enjoy it.

ALL: Thank you!

You need to listen to my commands.

Have a little sneaky look to your left

and then just quickly do a little shuffle up...

The cadets are getting warmed up with some marching.

But this is nothing compared to the physical work we put them through.

Being a Cop School cadet might look like it's all fun.

-Oh, my gosh...

-I'm not doing it.

But there have been some hard times physically for the cadets as well.

It's only pain. You love it!

They've had to chase protesters up and down escalators.

Quickly - we've only got one minute left.

They've completed challenges in the heat of full forensic PPE suits.

And they've waded knee-deep in the Thames mud.

To be tough, you've got to TRAIN tough too.

Two cadets stood out here for different reasons.

And whilst no-one loved the hardest training,

Megan complained the loudest.

It's really difficult, like, it's a lot of strain.

I actually hated running with the shield.

Let's go! Let's go!

I am hating every single sit-up.

But even she buckled down in the end and got stuck into the action

-when she needed to.

-Stay still!

Junior emerged as the most physically able cadet,

-taking every exercise in his stride.

-Get back!

Well, I was the fastest. I can clarify that to you!

OK, back on our feet...

He loved the riot shield training...

Junction across, clear!

..and the demands of the Met PT instructors.

But he felt the pressure when he failed

in the River Cops swimming challenge.

He almost missed out on being able to train on the boats.

The physical training that the cadets received

at Cop School was tough,

but it taught them to succeed in difficult conditions...

-Why have I got to take my knife out?

-Take it out!

-Let's go.

..to stick together with their team at all times...

-What have I done wrong?

-Keep walking!

..and gave them the strength to cope with the Cop School challenges.

-The man's guilty.

-Can you just go and stand over there, please?

In your positions...

Like all the police recruits who are passing out today,

the Cop School cadets have to attend the morning rehearsal.

-ALL:

-Yes, sir...

Right, pay attention! Let's produce the goods this morning,

to get it right this afternoon. Got that?

-ALL:

-Yes, sir!

Left, right... Left, right...

But there is added pressure.

Drill Sergeant Peter Clements will only let them take part

in the afternoon's passing out parade

if their marching is good enough.

'I'm hoping,'

really, really hoping that the Drill Sergeant lets us pass out,

because it'll just be amazing.

He's here to tell them his verdict.

Right, team, that is the rehearsal over. How do you think it went?

-ALL:

-Good.

I've got some good news, and I've got some bad news.

The good news is you're through.

-ALL:

-Yes!

-OK?

The bad news is,

we need to perfect our skills that little bit more for this afternoon.

I need your arms straight when you're marching along.

Raise your chin, and look up.

Feel proud to wear the uniform, and enjoy the moment. Got that, team?

-ALL:

-Yes, sir.

Got that, team?!

-ALL:

-Yes, sir!

-See you later.

So, the cadets are pretty happy about that,

and all six have found lots to laugh at every step of the way.

SHRIEKING

LAUGHING

We got a wave(!)

LAUGHING

Oh, no...

Don't thank me, thank the dog!

LAUGHTER

'What would REALLY put a smile on the faces on the cadets

'was being chosen as Top Cop, or...'

-ALL:

-Top Cops!

Well done, Sam.

Megan. Junior... Well done, Junior.

Rebecca...

Nathan, and Jade.

'..and getting their treats.'

Nathan and Jade were the first Top Cops

and found themselves dining out like kings.

Junior's reward was to hang out with a litter of six-week-old puppies.

Better not. Ow!

GIRLS SCREAM

The girls were in a whirl when Rebecca, Megan and Jade won a spin

on the traffic cops' skid pan.

Junior, Nathan and Rebecca got to smash down locked doors

with the Enforcer battering ram.

-I've missed!

-You've broken my plate!

Look at that!

And Sam triumphed with the river police

and opened the world-famous Tower Bridge

to let ships through.

THEY GIGGLE

But sometimes the cadets left with the punishments...

made the most of the messy tasks,

and ended up having more fun than they were perhaps meant to.

In the challenge with the British Transport Police,

the cadets performed so well that

it was impossible to separate them.

They all ended up as Top Cops.

And got an aerial treat

high above the capital.

So that meant that they all left with big smiles on their faces.

It's not long till the parade,

and the cadets have headed to a local cafe for lunch.

But we got here before them,

and rigged the cafe with secret cameras so we could watch

everything that happened.

They've changed into their parade uniforms, and think they're here

for a relaxing bite to eat before the real pressure begins.

What they don't know is that

we've got one last surprise for them.

Meet our Cop School criminal,

otherwise known as actor Marios.

He means trouble,

and our cadets should spot him

because, at seven feet tall,

he's the biggest Cop School criminal so far.

This is the Cop School van,

and the driver, Surinder.

Oh, look.

He's left his sat nav on the front seat. Silly boy.

And our criminal is about to nick it.

On day one, when the cadets came to Hendon, their observation skills

let them down, as most of them didn't spot

our Cop School criminal stealing a laptop and phone

right from under their noses.

I didn't even seem her come in.

After weeks of intensive training with the Met,

will they do better this time?

Everything is quiet at the moment,

while the cadets have a last-minute briefing on the passing out parade.

But will the cadets be alert and leap into action,

when we stage a smash and grab from our very own Cop School van?

Surinder, the Cop School driver, is checking his phone.

That's my cue to make my excuses and head out to the back.

Everyone gone to the toilet? I'm going to nip to the toilet.

And then we're going over, OK? Smarten up.

Time to bring on the Cop School criminal.

Our Cop School criminal spots the sat nav,

but will our cadets spot him?

They're watching him.

The cadets are immediately on to his suspicious behaviour and appearance.

What's he doing?

CAR ALARM

He's smashed the window. And he's off.

Junior's on his feet.

'Time to break out the Oscar-winning acting.'

He just smashed Surinder's window.

The man smashed the window.

What? Who has?

The man that's running up. He has black hair.

And a moustache. Yeah.

Look at the window.

That's your car, mate. That's your car.

Did you see it? You actually saw it?

He just pegged it down there.

Surinder, I'll call the police, mate.

'I'm pretending to call the police.

'But can the cadets give a good enough description of what went on?'

He's circled the van twice, and then...

Wait, wait, wait. Hang on.

He's seven foot and had a moustache and black hair.

'Well done, Rebecca. Good spot.'

Police? No, police, please. Thank you.

It's a car break in. It's happened literally one minute ago.

Did he take anything?

It looked like a bag.

A badge?

A bar.

'A bag or a bar?

'Or was it our sat nav? Come on, guys.'

He smashed the car window and grabbed something inside.

-Can someone describe what this guy looked like?

-He had black hair.

-Hold on. One at a time. How tall?

-About 6ft?

-'A bit more than that, Jade.'

-6ft 5.

-'Closer.'

Blue jumper.

-Black hair in a pony tail.

-Black hair in a pony tail.

'Good, Jade.'

-Anyone else?

-He had jeans on, I think.

-Jeans?

His hair looked like it was fake.

And he's 6ft 5.

Three-hair moustache and then he had proper black hair.

'Good attention to detail, Sam.'

So what have the Cadets noticed about our Cop School Criminal?

Dodgy-looking moustache.

Fake-looking, long, black hair.

Tall - about six foot or seven foot or six foot five-ish.

Blue hoodie and jeans.

Not bad.

Now it's time for the Director of Cop School, Nikki,

to make an entrance.

-Someone just robbed Surinder's car.

-Someone did his window.

'She listens to what happened to the cadets,

'but, because it's almost time for the passing out parade...'

Get ready, smarten up. Come on.

'..she tells them that they need to put the van incident

'out of their minds and head straight to the parade ground.'

Oh, hello! Look at that! What have we got! Who's that?

'Hang on a sec? Haven't we seen those faces somewhere before?'

'It's two of the cadets' mentors.'

Sergeant Merritt from traffic and Sergeant Nash from Public Order.

And they've arrested our Cop School Criminal.

What a coincidence meeting you here!

Anyone know anything about this man breaking into a car?

CADETS: Yeah.

-Is this the fella that's 6ft 5 with a very bad moustache?

-CADETS: Yeah.

High five, go on!

-You said this man's hair looked fake, did you?

-Yeah, it does.

Do you want to see for yourself?

Expect the unexpected. It's not always what it seems, is it?

You're tall.

'At the beginning of their training,

'they couldn't spot a leopard in a leotard.

'Now they've observed a crime

'and described the perpetrator well enough to get him arrested.

'They have passed this final observation challenge

'with flying colours.'

As the cadets make their way to the parade ground, their families

have started to arrive and lend some support on their big day.

OK, cadets. This is it now.

This is your passing out parade. Your friends, family,

everyone's here, it's your big day. This is what you've worked for.

Every police officer remembers their passing out parade.

I remember mine. It's a really proud day.

You will remember this day, probably for the rest of your lives.

Who's excited?

-Yeah.

-Yeah? OK. Remember,

the minute you step on that parade square, be proud.

Don't let yourselves down. Don't let your colleagues down.

And don't let your friends and family down.

The moment the cadets have been working towards is almost here.

They've spent weeks training hard

and now they're about to become the youngest cadets ever to take part.

On my first day of Cop School, I didn't think

I would be here doing this.

I thought I'd fail halfway through, and that would be it.

I didn't think I'd graduate with the rest of them.

When I started Cop School, I thought,

it will just end with all of the challenges.

But it's going to end with a big bang,

and I will remember it for ever.

I can't believe it. The moment is finally here.

Just time for one last piece of advice from their Drill Sergeant.

-Feeling a little bit nervous?

-CADETS: Yes.

-OK. Good luck.

Well done for getting through. I wish you well in your new career.

-Got that?

-CADETS: Yes.

And if ever you come back here to Hendon, come say hello to me.

-All right?

-CADETS: Yes.

-OK. Form up, team, thanks very much.

The Cop School cadets are passing out alongside 60 Met Police recruits

in front of the highest ranked police officer in the UK,

the Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson.

Many Met officers never get the chance to meet the Commissioner,

but today, our cadets will come face to face with the man himself.

And they're off.

The Cop School cadets peel off from the main group

and find their positions on the square.

And the pomp of the parade, just as when I,

and every other police officer passed out, is underway.

The Commissioner inspects the uniforms of every recruit

at the parade, starting with our lot.

-Have you enjoyed it?

-Yeah, really enjoyed it.

He asks the cadets about their Cop School experience,

and hopefully, it's all good things

that Sam and his colleagues tell him.

Inspection over, and it seems to have gone well.

'The Cop School Mentors and I couldn't be prouder.'

To pass out officially from Cop School,

they must successfully march in time with the other officers

to receive the salute from Sir Paul Stephenson,

the Commissioner.

Will they all get it right?

They're in position.

Now Junior will lead them on.

They're all in time. Looking good.

Now it's the big moment as they receive

the Met Commissioner's salute.

They've done it.

Keep going, guys!

They march through a Met guard of honour to applause

and cheers from Met officers.

I'm ecstatic, to be perfectly honest.

My instant reaction is, I'm just amazed to be here.

It was so much fun, everyone was clapping us and everything.

-It is a good feeling.

-Whoo! That was just amazing.

I can't believe that just happened, like,

as soon as we started marching, I nearly fainted,

I was like, "Is this really happening?"

Everyone cheering us on was amazing.

I'm so happy we've actually graduated.

Well done! That was brilliant! What was that like?

-CADETS: Amazing!

-How good were you?! You were all in step as well!

Well done! And Megan, you kept your hat on!

THEY LAUGH

THEY CHEER

So that's it.

Well done!

The band packs up

and the cadets go back to their families.

They've learnt a lot, they've grown a lot...

and I think they leave stronger than when they arrived.

I'm Rav Wilding and this was Cop School.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]