A Rock Band in a Police Force?
Most rock bands have a fleeting lifespan. If all goes well, a successful band might play ‘live’ for up to five years. The Australian, Victoria Police rock band CODE ONE, have recently notched up their 23rd year of live playing. Band members have changed over the years but the mission has not. That being Police Public Relations to the general public delivered in an unusual and memorable style.
CODE ONE is the only full-time government sponsored Police rock band in the world. They represent Victoria Police and are one of three full time bands that engage the general public for Victoria Police in Australia.
All members are sworn police and it is their full-time duty.
In 1989, the band was initially created by ‘borrowing’ members from the Police ‘Concert” band. A need had been identified for a Police band that would resonate with younger audiences. Initially the band consisted of a rhythm section (guitar, bass, keyboards and drums), a brass section (trumpet, trombone, French horn and saxes) and three singer/entertainers.
The original CODE ONE band 1989
Early promotional photos
Past members
CODE ONE with their part-time guitarist Constable T-Bear
CODE ONE 2013
L-R Andrew Murray – Music director/keyboard/sequencing, Rick Varlet – Guitar/lead vocals/sequencing, Lorena Novoa – Lead vocals, Richard Bennett – Drums/vocals, Simon Deppeler – Bass guitar, Brian Carbery – Lead vocals/bagpipes, Jason Bond – Sound engineer/sequencing (not pictured)
Daily, CODE ONE is out in public, playing their music to every imaginable audience demographic. In case they miss anyone out, CODE ONE also perform songs in Italian, French, Hebrew, Spanish and Korean!
The band has performed just about every type of gig there is:
- Secondary colleges
- Shopping Malls (where offenders are an ongoing issue)
- University Open Days
- Charity dinner dances
- Primary schools
- Night markets
- Community festivals
- Neighbourhood Watch events
- Youth Forum conferences promoting good life choices
- Support act for headlining rock bands
- Senior citizens events
- Hospitals
- Immigration Detention centres
- Welcome days at Werribee Zoo for new immigrants
Many of these engagements are organised by local Victoria Police members and CODE ONE regularly support these grass roots initiatives.
So by now you know the band plays pop music in public. So how is that policing? Maybe you think the band plays songs and interjects police ‘messages’ during the show?
The answer is, sometimes.
Primary school children drink in the Police ‘messages’, as opposed to a Secondary School audience where teenagers would normally just mentally turn off to any presented ‘information’.
Much of the benefit is about changing people’s minds about the Police, in an understated and subtle way. Anyone who has experienced a CODE ONE performance has interacted with Victoria Police members in a totally friendly, non-confrontational way.
Whether they were:
• An alienated high school kid with an attitude
• Bewildered and confused immigrants who still fear Police because of experiences in their homelands
• Aussie battlers in one of the shopping malls or
• A Primary School child who hasn’t yet formed any opinions about Police
...they have all experienced a subtle change in their mindset.
Teenagers can be one of the harder audiences to win over. It can take up to the very last song of a CODE ONE concert to break the ice and get them all up dancing. The message for teenagers is inconspicuous and simple. A great time can be had without the use of substances in a natural, normal environment. The punch line being, they did it with Victoria Police members!
All of these different interactions between Police and public in easy, friendly environments create an open relaxed line of communication in the Community and make everyone’s life better.
...and if you’re wondering if this enlightened, pro-active approach is successful, read some of the comments from delighted customers about the most requested Police band in Australia.
Wow! Last night I went to the Queen Victoria Night Market with a friend and came across the main stage with CODE ONE performing. My friend and I simply looked at each other and said WOW! These guys are great! We actually waited the two hours for you to come back on to do your second set because we loved it so much. Your band is fantastic, and I can simply not stop raving about it today even at work. I have placed all the videos I took from last night in a folder and am making as many people see them as possible!
Lorena, Brian and team, all I can say is you're fantastic!!! You brought together a group of people of all different ages and nationalities and got them to dance and sing together!!!
Thankyou for making the best night in a long time.
Jodie
“On behalf of the community of Traralgon, I would like to sincerely thank Code One. We have received incredible feedback...this day does symbolise part of our journey to recovery through reuniting, rebuilding and regenerating after the bushfires...it was great to see so many of our young people up ... singing along, smiling and laughing.”
Peter / Traralgon
“Once again, Code One put on a superb performance at the opening of the Police Station. I was worried as most people left the performance area to do a ‘walk-through’ the Police Station... suddenly from out of nowhere people from the Footscray Adult Migrant Educational Services appeared. By the end of your performance, we had a large group of Sudanese women dancing in the streets outside the Police Station! This was the highlight of the day!
My previous memory of Sudanese people outside the Police station in a large group, was when we had a rally four years ago. Things certainly have changed since that time! The part I liked was that they went off (with their tribal dancing) to your version of the AC/DC song “It’s a Long Way To The Top”. The response has been amazing!”
Leading Senior Constable Craig Spicer / Community Liaison Officer / Footscray Police
“I am writing to commend the work of the Code One Police Rock Band, for their vibrant, fun performance, ability and for the wonderful positive Police image they portray. Our agency provides respite and recreation services to families who have a child or a young person with a disability. We have been impressed by the band’s ability to engage with our clients with a disability and it has been wonderful to see the joy and pleasure it gives not only to our clients, but to the parents who love to see their sons and daughters enjoying themselves. Music is a universal communicator and a wonderful vehicle for promoting and building community connectedness”
Gaye / Broadmeadows
“Dear Code One. You are one of the best bands I have ever heard. I liked ‘American Idiot’, ‘Forever Young’, ‘Rogue Traders’, ‘Black Eyed Peas’, and Pink. You guys are so cool for a Police Band. Thank you for coming to our school.”
Chris aged 11
“Dear Code One. I had a marvelous time, I really enjoyed it. I still remember, you said wear your bike helmet and wear your seat belt and if something really urgent happens, ring 000. I’ll never forget them because I always wear my helmet and always wear my seatbelt. That was the best day ever!”
Rachel aged 9
“Dear Code One. I loved your songs. I think you’re the best band I’ve seen in my life!”
Raffaele aged 10
“Hi Code One. I would just like to say thank you for coming. My favourite song was Pink (Who Knew). You did a lot of work on a very hot boiling day. You really have great voices; you should go on Australian Idol!”
Sabina aged 7
“Code One is simply amazing!!”
Emoke / Docklands
“Thank you so much to the Code One Police Band for performing at Altona Green Primary School. What a fantastic performance, that was described by some of the children as ‘the best day they have ever had at school’.”
Karen / Altona (teacher)
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Code One Victoria Police band, on behalf of the whole school community for your amazing performance in front of our school. All of the children were buzzing after the performance and I know that this performance has changed the perception of Policemen and Policewomen in the eyes of many children in our school. The two recipients of the Code One Police Band ‘Achievement Award’ were so excited.
I think you made their year! One of the girls even slept with her award and spent the rest of the week with the hat on her head and the medal around her neck. I hope this is just the beginning of a wonderful partnership between our school, our local police and the Code One Police Band.”
Sarah / Berwick
“What a fantastic performance by Code One. They were so vibrant and full of energy, a top class professional act. Keep up the amazing work and keep rockin’. One of many great memories we are taking home with us.”
Tara and David – visitors from Ireland and England
Also available are CD's by the other two Police bands, the Showband and the Pipe Band.
CD's
CODE ONE has recorded many albums and two of them are available to purchase online at the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation website under the 'Merchandise' tab.Also available are CD's by the other two Police bands, the Showband and the Pipe Band.
