Special Emergency Response Team (Queensland)
Encyclopedia
Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) is the Police Tactical Group
of the Queensland Police
, Australia
. SERT is part of the Specialist Response Branch within the Operations Support Command which incorporates the Explosive Operations Response Team (Bomb Squad) and the Negotiator Coordination Unit. This command was formed in August 2008 removing these units from the Special Servicialst Branch. The Specialist Response Branch was born within Operations Support Command.
Prior to 1992 the unit was part time made up of officers drawn from other areas of the Police and performing tactical duties as required.
Since 1992 the unit is a full-time dedicated police tactical unit and is now known as the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).
In April 2011, SERT took delivery of a Lenco BearCat
armoured vehicle.
SERT supports negotiators and other police on the scene of high risk incidents, providing a safe environment for negotiations to occur, as well as containing threats and providing emergency tactical intervention as required. The negotiation unit currently consists of 112 part time and 3 full-time police negotiators with 27 qualified as counter-terrorist
negotiators. SERT also provides assistance to other police requiring specialist equipment and skills for low risk operations such as rural drug searches or a specialist roping capability.
- Tactical Assault Group Australian Federal Police
- Specialist Response and Security Team
- Tactical Operations Unit
- Territory Response Group
- Special Tasks and Rescue Group
- Special Operations Group
- Special Operations Group
- Tactical Response Group
Police Tactical Group
Police tactical groups , formerly known as "police assault groups", are part of the Australian government's National Anti-Terrorism Plan which, since 1978, has required each state and territory police force to maintain a specialised counter-terrorist and hostage rescue unit jointly funded by the...
of the Queensland Police
Queensland Police
The Queensland Police Service is the law enforcement agency responsible for policing the Australian state of Queensland. In 1990, the Queensland Police Force was officially renamed the Queensland Police Service and the old motto of "Firmness with Courtesy" was changed to "With Honour We Serve"...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. SERT is part of the Specialist Response Branch within the Operations Support Command which incorporates the Explosive Operations Response Team (Bomb Squad) and the Negotiator Coordination Unit. This command was formed in August 2008 removing these units from the Special Servicialst Branch. The Specialist Response Branch was born within Operations Support Command.
History
Initially formed in 1975 and originally known as the Emergency Squad, the unit underwent several name changes over the years and up until 1992 was known as the Special Weapons and Operations Squad (SWOS).Prior to 1992 the unit was part time made up of officers drawn from other areas of the Police and performing tactical duties as required.
Since 1992 the unit is a full-time dedicated police tactical unit and is now known as the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).
In April 2011, SERT took delivery of a Lenco BearCat
Lenco BearCat
The Lenco BearCat is a wheeled armored personnel carrier in use with numerous military and law enforcement agencies.-History:Since 1981 the Massachusetts based Lenco Industries, known as Lenco Armoured Vehicles has designed and manufactured armored vehicles for Law Enforcement, Military, Government...
armoured vehicle.
Mission
The groups missions is to provide a specialist service to the community and support police operations by the attainment of a high level of expertise and professionalism in resolving incidents which exceed normal police capabilities.SERT supports negotiators and other police on the scene of high risk incidents, providing a safe environment for negotiations to occur, as well as containing threats and providing emergency tactical intervention as required. The negotiation unit currently consists of 112 part time and 3 full-time police negotiators with 27 qualified as counter-terrorist
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
negotiators. SERT also provides assistance to other police requiring specialist equipment and skills for low risk operations such as rural drug searches or a specialist roping capability.
Selection
To qualify for the selection course Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) hopefuls have to undergo a gruelling fitness regime. They must complete a minimum of 10 chin ups, 35 push ups and 100 sit ups, then run 10 km in under 46 minutes and finally swim 400 metres in under 10 minutes. All this is done without a rest. The three-day selection course is regarded as the most difficult and physically demanding course within the Queensland Police Service (QPS). It tests physical and mental endurance through individual and team tasks, problem solving, sleep deprivation, basic survival skills and by challenging phobias for example heights and closed spaces.Principal roles
SERTs primary roles include:- Protecting endangered witnesses;
- Resolving siege and hostage situations, as well as armed offender situations;
- Providing a negotiation service in high risk and critical situations;
- Undertaking searches of premises in high risk situations;
- The arrest of armed and dangerous offenders;
- Escorting and securing dangerous prisoners in high risk situations;
- Providing support services for major operations
- High angle rescue
- Less lethal tactics deployment
- Water and Airborne operations and insertion
Similar Australian units
Australian Defence ForceAustralian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
- Tactical Assault Group Australian Federal Police
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- Specialist Response and Security Team
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- Territory Response Group
Territory Response Group
The Territory Response Group is the Police Tactical Group of the Northern Territory Police. Part of the Territory Response Section the TRG is tasked to provide general and specialist support to other units of the Northern Territory Police...
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International units
- SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics)SWATA SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
- Special Tactics GroupSpecial Tactics GroupThe Special Tactics Group , formerly known as the Anti-Terrorist Squad, is the full-time tactical and counter-terrorism group of the New Zealand Police....
within the New Zealand PoliceNew Zealand PoliceThe New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
See also
- List of Special Response Units
- National Anti Terrorism Exercise