Falklands : Sergeant Roberts Speaks About the DARE Project
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 04.07.2007 (Article Archived on 18.07.2007)
Sergeant Roberts has been involved with the DARE Project for the past 10 years. He speaks about his involvement and the project's history in the Falklands.
Photo (c) J. Brock (FINN) Sergeant Roberts and his students.
SERGEANT ROBERTS SPEAKS ABOUT THE DARE PROJECT
Sergeant Roberts and a class of DARE Students at the Infant Junior School.
By Sergeant Dave Roberts
After reading the Penguin News on Friday 29th June 2007 and in the FINN news page, and following a number of calls from concerned parents, carers and ex-DARE students I feel that I must include my side of the story, if possible as an article…
I initially identified DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) in October 1997 while at my Crime Reduction Course at Easingwold near York. I was speaking to a Ministry of Defence Police officer who gave me a set of the materials given to students and their carers. I began fact-finding and found that it could be adapted for the Falkland Islands and the then head of the Infant and Junior School Jean Smith and later John Farrow were very interested.
In 1998 I presented a paper to councillors, which outlined DARE and the benefits that it would have for the community and our children. I received the response that it would be fully supported by FIG but it would not receive any funding.
Dot Wilkinson (the School Liaison Officer) and I held a meeting at the Infant and Junior School with several parents and other interested parties, which included Russ Jarvis, Government House First Secretary. We discussed the smoking and drinking issues and what could be done as a community to reduce this. I discussed DARE with them and they all thought it was a great idea and should be implemented as soon as possible with the support of FIG.
I applied for funding again in 2000, this was for an officer to go for training to the UK and all costs except for travel would be met by DARE (UK). This met with another refusal for funding but the full support of FIG, at this point I had decided that I was just about to give up when I was approached by the Russ Jarvis who told me that after the meeting at the school, he had been able to secure funding for DARE from Good Government Funds. I was then approached by Argos and was told that the Argos Scholarship Fund was able to supply funding for the materials needed for the students in DARE. This funding is still available and without their assistance and the assistance of the Chamber of Commerce the workbooks would not be available to continue DARE and I would like to thank all that have supported DARE for this.
As for the current status of DARE, everyone is aware of what has happened to the Royal Falkland Islands Police with regards to reductions in budget and investigations into the department. This has meant that I have had to take on more than my usual workload, which meant that DARE in 2006 was disjointed and affected the reception it had from the year 6 students at the Junior School. I feel that DARE needs 100% effort and commitment from the DARE officer, this I am willing to give as I always have. This however cannot be done in my current role, with the cuts that the department has suffered. We have days where there is only one officer on until 4:30PM and I may be required to assist the officer on duty. I have also been required to cover leave and sickness, which has included night duties, all of which have had an impact on DARE.
The other concern is that DARE has been seen as a catch-all, DARE does deal with and confront a number of issues, however DARE is not the solution to all the problems that the young people of the Falklands will face.
I would love to continue with being a DARE officer however with current staff shortages and increased workload this will not be possible. I have been working at getting the Senior School Program in place for nearly three years and this will be coming to fruition for the next DARE officer. DARE has been my baby and my family has increased by at least 250 in the last five years, and it would have increased by at least another year six class if I had the opportunity and the time. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the classroom with all the students from pre-school to year six, and would like to thank students, parents, carers and staff alike for your efforts in making DARE the success it is.
I am also aware that there are concerns that I am reducing my role as a “Community Police Officer”, my colleagues and I are community police officers, we serve and assist our community to the best of our skills and abilities sometimes to the detriment of our family lives. There are a number of roles that we are required to fulfil by law, these will always take precedence and with the reduction in officers and increased workloads there is going to be a reduction of officers “on the beat” and “Community Policing”.
Thank you to all in the Community who support DARE and your police service
David Roberts
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