Ilford students graduate at New Scotland Yard as ‘Met Girlz’.

Sixteen girls from Ilford had a day to remember yesterday as they were recognised by Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe from the Met Police after graduating as ‘Met Girlz.’ The team of girls from Oakspark School in Ilford attended New Scotland Yard to meet senior police officers and have their chance to share their views on how to shape the Met.

This fantastic ten week initiative was set up by neighbourhood police officers in east London, and has seen the sixteen girls visit various Met units including the Mounted Branch (horses), dog unit and NPAS (National Police Air Service) in order to inform their understanding of what police in London are trained to do, and how they apply this training. Throughout the project, officers have welcomed open and honest discussions around the issues affecting the young women the most, including law enforcement.

Part of the programme saw the young women discuss problems that Londoners their age are facing, brainstorm effective solutions, and present their ideas back to senior MPS officers including Chief Inspector Lisa Butterfield and Superintendent Matt Cox, who lead on neighbourhood policing operations across east London.

Following the programme, eight out of the sixteen young women said that they are keen to pursue a career in the Met.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed their ten week programme and their visit to New Scotland Yard yesterday having the opportunity to chat with high ranking officers about policing and issues effecting them.

17 year old Dharini told the Havering Daily:

“I found it so fun when we got to do the bleep test, and it was interesting learning about the whole training process and the requirements the police officers need to be fit. 

“I think the project was really inspiring because in films all the police officers are fully grown, strong men and this proved to me that being a police officer isn’t about gender. You can really do whatever you want to do.”

PC Claire Argyle who led this initiative was very proud of her ‘Met Girlz’ and told the Havering Daily:

“The girls had the opportunity to see what the Met and policing is all about. The project ran for ten weeks and they had the chance to see many different areas of policing and have talks with lots of different officers. I am very proud of them and really pleased that many now would like to join the Met once they have finished their studies.

PC Argyle is a Youth Problem Solver across the Met and will be rolling this fantastic scheme out across all of London to any secondary schools interested.

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, who joined the girls to celebrate the day and had the honour of giving the girls their awards said: “I’m so impressed by these young women – by their commitment to the programme, by their achievements and their growth in confidence as they’ve worked with us.

“They’ve really challenged us about the way that we police, and they’ve put forward some brilliant ideas about how we can build trust. They are so impressive – they are our future here, and we are so pleased to work with them.”

Well done to everyone involved, this is a fantastic initiative that really encourages young people to learn about policing and gives them the opportunity to share their views with Met officers who are not only keen to listen, but also eager to help shape the Met the best way they can to serve all communities.