Thamesfield Safer Neighbourhoods Team have been engaging with the Wandsworth, Chelsea & Fulham Sea Cadets based in Putney for the last three years.

Over the last couple of years the Cadets base unit had been subject to burglaries, damage and theft. During one burglary internal damage was caused to the building, which was not covered by the insurance, which resulted in unexpected payments having to be made out of funds.

During the most recent theft the unit had, a kayak was stolen. This was never recovered and the unit were unable to replace it due to lack of funds.

PC Stuart Paton made an application to the MPS Police Property Act Fund on behalf of the unit and as a result they were granted £1000.

On Wednesday 18th February 2009 the Wandsworth Borough Commander Ch. Supt. Stewart Low presented the Unit Management Committee chairman: Mrs Muriel Huxley MBE with a cheque for £1000 which should go some way towards up rating the units building security and replacing the stolen kayak. The Mayor of Wandsworth was also in attendance.

PS Chapple said:
"The money provided by the Metropolitan Police Service will go a long way to providing facilities for the cadets to use and to help prevent further crimes being committed at the units base. I am pleased that we have such good ties with the cadets and other youth organisations which is largely due to PC Paton's continued hard work."