Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2004/Better careers, posting stability for Navy Police
"When constabulary duty's to be done,to be done - A policeman's lot is not a happy one, happy one."
- W. S. Gilbert, 'The Police Chorus' in The Pirates of Penzance
'By LCDR Antony Underwood
The Naval Police Coxswains' (NPCs') lot is expected to improve considerably following a far-reaching review into the category. Lieutenant Commander Bob Dokter, who led the working group into the Naval Police Coxswain category, says the two-year review was designed to refocus and reinvigorate the NPC category.
" It will provide a better career path and greater posting stability," he said. Two aspects of the Naval Police Coxswain role which emerge from the review are the traditional role of policing within the Service and inculcating traditional values: the current Chief of Navy has described the category as' Stalwarts of the Navy's Values'.
The review puts the primary role of the NPC category as policing - a duty which had been to some extent lost in recent years with the category's roles becoming too diverse." Policing is defined as 'actions by an organised force for maintaining order, preventing and detecting crime, and enforcing the laws'," LCDR Dokter said. "To that end, Petty Officer members of the category will be taught investigative techniques to allow them to undertake investigations into 'notifiable incidents'."
'Notifiable incidents' are those offences where command must notify a Defence Investigative Authority. Basic disciplinary offences such as being absent without leave are not 'notifiable' whereas others such as assaults, theft, fraud and illicit drugs - which would be offences in the civil community - are.
While the main focus is policing, Naval Police Coxswains will retain the responsibility for managing 'Whole Ship' activities - those relating to day-to-day operations - on behalf of the Executive Officer.
Force Protection policy of the ship. " The NPC category remains part of the Seaman Branch," LCDR Dokter said, "but the Small Ships Navigation Course has been removed from the NPC career continuum." He said the decision to discontinue this course took into account the phasing out of the Fremantle Class patrol boats and their replacement by the new Armidale Class boats. While Petty Officer NPCs will continue to do Officer of the Watch (OOW) duties to meet workforce demand, eg; survey vessels and landing craft, on the new patrol boats they will work as second-in-charge of boarding parties.
The NPC review also details the training required to join the category and to progress through the ranks.
Those who qualify on the basic entry course are to be posted to one of the four Navy Defence Investigative Agencies (DIAs) at major establishments at Garden Island (East), or HMA Ships Stirling, Cerberus or Albatross to consolidate their primary role of policing. After that they must serve a minimum of 18 months at sea. A fifth DIA, based in Northern Australia, is currently under consideration. After further training in investigation, Naval Police Coxswains can progress through the ranks to Petty Officer, with a further requirement of 18 months sea time.
Those who are promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer retain policing as their primary role but also are responsible to Command for whole ship activities.
" There will be opportunities for those CPONPCs who wish to continue using their OOW skills to serve in hydrographic survey ships. LCDR Doktor said, "but Senior Sailor Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate /Navigation Watch Certificate will be mandatory for these positions."
The NPC category is currently established for 220 positions and currently has somewhat more than 170 members.
" We do have a few vacancies for the right sort of sailors," LCDR Dokter said. "We're looking for people with a good Service record, honesty, integrity, dedication and a sense of humour."
For those with access to the DEFWEB, full details of the requirements can be found at http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/home/ documents/data/NAVYPUBS/NAVYMAN ABR10/16F.pdf .
The Staff Officer Category Sponsor, CPONPC Andy Clark, is available for guidance on any specific queries about the NPC category
