The Student Police Cadet (SPC) Project is a school-based initiative by Kerala Police, implemented jointly by the Departments of Home and Education, and supported by Departments of Transport, Forest, Excise and Local Self-Government. The project trains high school students to evolve as future leaders of a democratic society by inculcating in them, respect for the law, discipline, civic sense, empathy for vulnerable sections of society and resistance to social evils. The project also enables youth to explore and develop their innate capabilities, thereby empowering them to resist the growth of negative tendencies such as social intolerance, substance abuse, deviant behavior, and anti-establishment violence. Equally, it strengthens within them commitment towards their family, the community, and the environment.
The Project was launched on August 2, 2010 in 127 high schools/higher secondary schools across Kerala, with 11,176 students, both boys and girls, enrolled as Cadets and 254 teachers trained as school-level Community Police Officers (CPOs).. The project was gradually expanded to more and more schools due to immense popularity and ready acceptance by schools, teachers, students, parents, civil society, alike. As on today, April 2020, as many as 702 schools located in 19 police districts of Kerala with a combined strength of 60,000 cadets and 1404 CPOs have implemented the project.
Union Home Minister has announced on 21st July, 2018, that the SPC project developed by the Kerala Police has been selected for implemention in all the States and Union Territories of India. His announcement came during the inauguration of SPC project in Haryana.