Post by flyjoe180 on Feb 10, 2008 10:45:09 GMT 12
Faced with the task of changing an entrenched drinking culture, the Devonport naval base says it is succeeding.
With a team of social workers, doctors, naval police and educators working together and with the North Shore police, today’s navy has very little tolerance for alcohol or drug fuelled sailors.
Naval ratings have made headlines over the years for their drinking but both the navy and the police say the bad behaviour is committed by a small percentage of ratings.
North Shore police commander inspector Les Paterson says the issues need to be put it in context. The navy strives for perfection and "any little chink in the armour is going to be scrutinised".
He says if the navy were a private organisation any incidents would not reach the same level of public consciousness.
Another factor is the Devonport base’s unique location. In the middle of a large city, it is very open to scrutiny, Mr Paterson says.
"We are dealing with ordinary young people who often for the first time in their lives have money in their pockets and opportunities that might never have previously been available to them," he says.
Lieutenant Commander David Washer says the navy promotes and helps organise events with no alcohol base to them like Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park and children’s camps and Christmas parties that give ratings the opportunity to link with friends and family .
A hard-hitting 40-minute video showing the consequences of drinking and taking drugs is another aspect of the navy’s effort.
Mick O’Carroll is in charge of this naval education programme and works with the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand.
"The message is reinforcing the requirement to be fit for service and the navy core values of courage, commitment and comradeship," Mr O’Carroll says.
About 1400 sailors have seen the presentation which is shown to new recruits and sailors being sent overseas, he says.
Service personnel and their families also have access to an alcohol and drug helpline.
One avenue for support is from two of the navy’s fulltime social workers.
Senior social worker Jason Hallie says issues arise because some new sailors arrive with well-established drinking habits but they have to modify their attitudes to fit into the changing culture of the navy.
Mr Hallie says increased detection through breath testing, disciplinary action, community meetings and treatment through drug services, the naval hospital or the helpline have resulted in a "huge decrease" in total alcohol consumption.
Naval police Lieutenant Commander Lissa Jackson says the number of cars leaving the base at night has "substantially decreased" since breath testing seven days a week began of all drivers leaving the base between 9pm and 6am.
New recruits are also breath tested for their first four weeks on base, using levels the same as drunk drivers, and spoken to by police on sensible behaviour and staying out of trouble.
Mrs Jackson says sailors are making better choices like walking, asking to be tested or using the naval courtesy buses that operate on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights to and from Takapuna.
There is no cut price alcohol on the base either, says Captain Dean McDougall, commanding officer for the HMNZS Philomel.
"There is a huge admin cost of dealing with problems, we take it very seriously," he says.
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/auckland/4391651a6497.html
With a team of social workers, doctors, naval police and educators working together and with the North Shore police, today’s navy has very little tolerance for alcohol or drug fuelled sailors.
Naval ratings have made headlines over the years for their drinking but both the navy and the police say the bad behaviour is committed by a small percentage of ratings.
North Shore police commander inspector Les Paterson says the issues need to be put it in context. The navy strives for perfection and "any little chink in the armour is going to be scrutinised".
He says if the navy were a private organisation any incidents would not reach the same level of public consciousness.
Another factor is the Devonport base’s unique location. In the middle of a large city, it is very open to scrutiny, Mr Paterson says.
"We are dealing with ordinary young people who often for the first time in their lives have money in their pockets and opportunities that might never have previously been available to them," he says.
Lieutenant Commander David Washer says the navy promotes and helps organise events with no alcohol base to them like Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park and children’s camps and Christmas parties that give ratings the opportunity to link with friends and family .
A hard-hitting 40-minute video showing the consequences of drinking and taking drugs is another aspect of the navy’s effort.
Mick O’Carroll is in charge of this naval education programme and works with the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand.
"The message is reinforcing the requirement to be fit for service and the navy core values of courage, commitment and comradeship," Mr O’Carroll says.
About 1400 sailors have seen the presentation which is shown to new recruits and sailors being sent overseas, he says.
Service personnel and their families also have access to an alcohol and drug helpline.
One avenue for support is from two of the navy’s fulltime social workers.
Senior social worker Jason Hallie says issues arise because some new sailors arrive with well-established drinking habits but they have to modify their attitudes to fit into the changing culture of the navy.
Mr Hallie says increased detection through breath testing, disciplinary action, community meetings and treatment through drug services, the naval hospital or the helpline have resulted in a "huge decrease" in total alcohol consumption.
Naval police Lieutenant Commander Lissa Jackson says the number of cars leaving the base at night has "substantially decreased" since breath testing seven days a week began of all drivers leaving the base between 9pm and 6am.
New recruits are also breath tested for their first four weeks on base, using levels the same as drunk drivers, and spoken to by police on sensible behaviour and staying out of trouble.
Mrs Jackson says sailors are making better choices like walking, asking to be tested or using the naval courtesy buses that operate on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights to and from Takapuna.
There is no cut price alcohol on the base either, says Captain Dean McDougall, commanding officer for the HMNZS Philomel.
"There is a huge admin cost of dealing with problems, we take it very seriously," he says.
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/auckland/4391651a6497.html