You're Not Real Police, Are You?

 Mention the words Police Band and you’ll probably think of an old marching band tramping down the street playing out of tune trumpets and squeaky clarinets whilst marching badly.

Victoria Police Band 1924

This may have described the Police band of 1891 when it all started but the Victoria Police bands of today have their feet firmly planted in the 21st Century.  In fact, they do still march but it is only a part of their function.  Most days their duty consists proactive Public Relations for Victoria Police.  To get their message across, the Victoria Police Bands now use electric guitars and the latest computer technology as well as those traditional trumpets, saxophones even bagpipes!

The Bands actually comprise three bands:

• The Pipe Band is a traditional Scottish Bagpipe Band consisting 10 pipers and 5 drummers. It performs various functions from traditional marching in parades and formal events to stationary concert performances at police, community and corporate events. Everything from Police graduation parades, ceremonies and funerals, to large community public events such as the famous Anzac Day Parade, Moomba Parade and the Melbourne Cup Parade of Champions. The Pipe Band also delivers school programs, which provide a musical performance with key awareness and safety messages to young children.

Victoria Police Pipe Band piper, Ian.

• The Showband - a 25 piece ‘big band’ fronted by two female vocalists. This presents authentic performances of songs from the 1940’s Big Band Era right through to current Top 40. Audiences can expect anything from jazz, swing, rock n’ roll, musical theatre, current pop music even light operatic favourites. Impressive instrumental features show off the band’s virtuoso soloists. 

The Showband

• Small in size but big in impact, the Force’s newest tradition of 23 years is Code One, a 7 member, pop cover band consisting singers, guitarists, keyboards, drums and music technology. Code One performs all styles of pop music and specializes in the very latest Top 40.  Everything from Adele to Jason Mraz, Katy Perry to Carly Rae Jepsen, Guy Sebastian to Rihanna.  Code One was formed to primarily target the young and young at heart.

Code One on stage

But why would you have bands in a modern Police force?  Isn’t policing about catching the bad guys and enforcing the law?  After all re-active policing is an essential service.  Of course it is, no one could argue it isn’t but pro-active policing has just as crucial a role to play.  Some see it as tougher versus smarter. In fact, it’s not a competition at all, as they are both fundamental to effective policing. 

Now even though the average Police Constable’s responsibilities include pro-active elements, the Bands are PR specialists and excel in this area.  Daily, they interface with the community to change attitudes and correct false perceptions about police men and women.  This experiential marketing connects the public with the Police in a startling but personable and memorable way. It’s actually the ultimate ‘high concept’ or ‘high touch’ pro-active Police experience.  Music’s ability to speak all languages serves as a natural stepping stone to building better relationships with all people. In short, it really does work.

By performing, in uniform, the bands are actually presenting Police presence in a very unexpected but positive context. 

The bands have collected hundreds of stories about the positive effect the bands are having:

• A noted Melbourne radio personality launched an attack on the existence of the Police Bands.  He was subsequently swamped with irate listeners jumping to the bands’ defence citing the good they do everyday.

• Recently, Code One the rock band performed at a TAFE college. In the audience was a teen that had many family members who’d served time in jail for various offences.  Regardless, he enjoyed the band immensely and didn’t stop dancing the entire show.

Victoria Police - Force Command is well aware of the power of music and has used it as an effective Public Relations tool for years. Not only clever but a masterstroke!  It is certainly no accident that every band performance is a success.  The appropriate band is matched for the particular audience being targeted.  For instance, typically, the Pipe Band plays at formal engagements as they are the official State band.  The Showband often plays to adult attended events, while Code One often targets youth at schools.

In the ‘real’ world however each of the three bands regularly cross over into each other’s territory.  Imagine for a moment Code One playing ACDC’s ‘Long Way to the Top’ or John Farnham’s ‘You’re the Voice’ with the Police Pipe band in a shopping mall or the Showband playing opera or even the Pipe band playing ‘Bob the Builder’ to Primary school children.  These scenarios happen every week, as each band must be not only adaptable but relevant to any audience type.

The bands currently consist 46 playing musicians plus support staff.  Within the bands there exists an amazing array of talent.  Musicians of the highest calibre with far-reaching experience are able to provide literally any musical request.  That’s all quite a boast isn’t it? But not if you can back it up! 

Band members’ professional backgrounds include:

• TV performers and musical directors
• Movie soundtrack composers
• World champion bagpipers and drummers
• Music technology specialists
• TV and radio session musicians and singers
• Recording artists
• Symphony orchestra musicians
• Gifted jazz, rock and blues musicians and
• Singers that can authentically replicate pop to opera. 

In fact the Victoria Police Bands are well known in the Australian music industry and there is always hot competition for positions in the bands as they become available.  A recent female vocalist vacancy in the rock band was whittled down from 18 contenders. 

Between them, the three Police bands have backed and supported quite a few household entertainment names you may find familiar:

• Lisa McCune (Sea Patrol, Blue Heelers) 
• Colleen Hewitt (Wind Beneath My Wings, The Boy From Oz)
• Jon English (Pirates of Penzance, Jesus Christ Superstar)
• Denise Drysdale (Australian TV)
• Lisa Edwards (John Farnham Band)
• Andre Rieu (Dutch violin sensation)
• Tanya Doko (Bachelor Girl)
• Jack Jones (Southern Sons)
• Cotton, Keays and Morris (pop icons)
• Vika and Linda
• Tommy Emmanuel (Australian guitar legend)
• Daryl Braithwaite (Sherbet)
• Skyhooks (pop icons)
• Kate Ceberano (Australian singer)
• Debra Byrne (Australian entertainer)
• Angry Anderson (Australian icon)
• Humphrey B Bear (Australian TV star)

Every Chief Commissioner has given the Police bands unwavering support.

And why not?  It works! Thousands of fan mail letters and emails over the years are a testament to the effectiveness and popularity of the bands.

The Police Bands characterize many typical Victoria Police values such as professionalism, innovation and relevance.  But it’s not just all about the music.  The performance is actually the ‘honey to the bee’. At many shows the bands deliver various Police and safety messages.

But playing in uniform? Sounds a bit daggy doesn’t it?  Well in fact there’s no point, unless members are in full uniform. All too often “service” bands rely heavily on the novelty of playing in uniform. After all, it’s not a common sight and this aspect does animate audiences BUT said ‘act’ then has to actually hold that same crowd! Fortunately, the three Victoria Police Bands have their job down to a fine art!

The Showband, Pipeband and Code One never fail to attract and keep their audiences.  In fact, some of the most commonly asked questions of band members after a performance include “You’re not real police are you? You sound too good!” or “You were miming weren’t you?”

In fact, all band members ARE sworn Police members and their ‘full-time’ duty is proactive policing and no they’re not miming.

As an example of some of their work productivity, let’s examine some statistics:  
In 2011, the 3 bands
• travelled 70,276 kilometres around the state 
• performed 401 concerts
• directly engaged 651,660 members of the community (not counting TV)
• Performances were in metro and rural areas and covered all demographics

It has been generally accepted that Victoria Police can never have enough Police “on the ground”.  The solution lies in working hand in hand with communities. This requires Police offering an approachable and accessible manner to the public so that people are comfortable approaching Police members. The bands are one of the key elements of this goal.  

Google Victoria Police Bands.

Simon Deppeler
Senior Musician