60's lifestyles
Before addressing the latest changes in the Branch structure, it is important to recognise a major success in our recent history, which many of our readers will relate to, either through their service within or alongside the provision of plain clothes policing duties.
The late 1960’s brought major changes in the lifestyles of some of the younger members of the civilian population who embraced the hippy revolution which carried with it the culture of taking recreational drugs as a way of seeking enjoyment.
This culture of recreational drug use was not a practice the Senior Officers of the Navy wished to become prevalent within the navy.
A firm line was adopted and a zero tolerance attitude employed. As with all big organisations this was a policy difficult to enforce and to maintain.
Zero tolerance
The MOD(N) authorised the setting up within the Regulating Branch two specialist sections to attempt to install a responsible attitude amongst service personnel.
Firstly, the Regulating School organisation created and developed a small Drugs Prevention and Management Lecture Team. Touring naval establishments and ships, they carried out lectures with visual aids and a movie to ships companies and leadership classes.
The film was quite descriptive and portrayed a young couple smoking cannabis and injecting substances into their legs, and naturally and intentionally it was not a pretty sight seeing graphic images of the leg blow up like a balloon, and the resulting lifestyle of these two people which followed their demise.
DPML team
To enable managers to recognise the burning smell of cannabis, the team used a smouldering small sample within lecture rooms. It was considered that the team provided a worthwhile service in educating Naval personnel.
Given that the Army did not have such a capability (the RAF Police created a team some years later) the Navy team found themselves requested to lecture to Army audiences, and more widely to youth organisations such as Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, to voluntary organisations such as The Conservative Women’s Guild, and also an all-party group of MP’s.
Drugs Squad
Lieutenant Commander Bob Hopson-Hill M.B.E (centre) the Naval Provost Marshal Portsmouth was charged with setting up the first RN Drugs Squad.
A considerable step forward for the Navy as we did not, like the other service police, have a Special Investigations Squad.
It is considered therefore that the Navy did not put its head in the sand, pressed ahead and the first Drugs Squad born within the realms of the RN Provost HQ Portsmouth under Hopson-Hill’s command.
Expertise
This squad was understandably, amongst other members of the Regulating Branch, seen as an elite group of people who seemed to think themselves above the grass roots of the branch, with their ‘wide boy’ suits, and long hair.
Notwithstanding this, many a WO MAA, MAA and Regulating Staff Officer welcomed their expertise, and knowledge to carryout specialist investigations which required facilities and equipment that they possessed.
They were able to develop a data base of information and had a close liaison with the local Constabularies specialist teams.
Home to foreign ports
Sound relationships developed with members of the Squads attached to Portsmouth City Police Drug Squad and named ‘South East Area Drugs Squad’. Similar squads were set up in Devonport and Scotland.
In the foreign stations, the Provost Marshals of Singapore and Hong Kong nominated a staff member to act as Anti-Vice patrols, working closely with the Civilian Police to ensure that Jolly Jack behaved in the bars and houses of ill repute, or houses of pleasure.
In Hong Kong this was called the Combined Allied Services Anti-Vice Bureau (CASAB) as it was jointly staffed by members of both the RN Patrol and the RMP.
Boarding
The education of RN Personnel in misuse of substances remains a priority.
The lecture team in its original form has been disbanded and the role and duties amalgamated into a new team called the Compulsory Drug Testing team (CDT), led by a WO Medical Branch and made up of other specialisations who visit ships and RN establishments unannounced.
Supported across the specialty, widely skilled, it can also extend to unexpected boarding calls at sea. Training covers all eventualities, demonstrated in the photograph of Eon Matthews, RPO during boarding practise in Hong Kong.
Highly skilled
Investigations following the Fleet as far and wide as Crete and Scotland amongst many other places, have included issues such as fraud, sexual assaults, theft of firearms, and a neglect of duty/allowing/causing the hazarding of a HM Ship.
Collaborations with local police forces further broadening the reach of their expertise.
It can be seen more clearly, that the RN SIB are highly skilled, a credit to the Branch, and provide a worthwhile service to the Royal Navy.
Close ties
A similar, smaller team was created at RNPHQ Plymouth and RNPHQ Rosyth to augment and support regional capability for the local Portsmouth teams.
A close knit community within a community, the camaraderie among the drugs squads of the early years lasts today with close ties maintained through the Association, website and forum.
Peter David is pictured with his specialist dog Monty.
Safety critical
A Master at Arms is still a key component of the team and his primary role is the delivery of appropriate education on the subject of alcohol and drug misuse around the fleet and on patrol.
Further indications of the zero tolerance policy is demonstrated in the use of breathalysers for ‘safety critical duties’ such as safe passage of the ship and personnel involved in handling weapons.
A clear acknowledgement of modern health and safety in the workplace legislation, skills and methodologies needed to police it.
RIB and Roll
Over time and building on the training, experience and legacies of those before, the roles have evolved to take on an even more sophisticated threat without compared with the challenged individual.
Interception of traffickers features high on the modern day agenda and it is without a doubt a team effort where all of the highly trained individuals come together with a common goal of preventing drugs from reaching our streets via a range of counter operations.
Professional teams and high speed RIBs.