Specialist Response and Security
Encyclopedia
The Specialist Response and Security Team is the Special Operations
and Police Tactical Group
of the Australian Federal Police
(AFP) having responsibility for tactical and specialist operations within the Australian Capital Territory
. The Operational Response Group
(ORG) has responsibility for AFP National and International tactical operations.
Currently commanded by Superintendent Mark Colbran the Specialist Response and Security (SRS) section of ACT Policing provides a full time tactical operations unit who also perform search and rescue
and riot control
duties, a K9 section and bomb squad. The unit also commands the AFP's Police Negotiation Team, Water Police, Police Divers and Major Events Planning Team. In 2011 SRS took delivery of Lenco BearCat
armoured rescue vehicle for high risk tactical operations.
SRS officers also provide support to international AFP deployments overseas prior to the formation of the Operational Response Group
[previously known as the Operational Response Team (ORT)].
Their role on such operations includes:
The section also provides close personal protection to important dignitaries and heads of state
visiting Australia.
Equivalent State, Territory and Federal units Police Tactical Group
Australian Federal Police
- Operational Response Group
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
and Police Tactical 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 Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
(AFP) having responsibility for tactical and specialist operations within the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
. The Operational Response Group
Operational Response Group
The Operational Response Group is a police tactical group of the Australian Federal Police and part of the AFP's International Deployment Group able to support the AFP in both National and International tactical operations..-History:...
(ORG) has responsibility for AFP National and International tactical operations.
History
SRS are part of the Australian Government's National Anti-Terrorism Plan which requires, since 1978 each State/Territory Police Force to maintain a specialist counter-terrorist and hostage rescue unit with specialist capabilities. The SRS fulfils this role within the Australian Capital Territory. Originally known as the Armed Offender Squad, then re-named the Special Operations Team (SOT) the unit underwent significant changes in 2002 and was renamed to reflect the changes in early 2003 to Specialist Response and Security.Currently commanded by Superintendent Mark Colbran the Specialist Response and Security (SRS) section of ACT Policing provides a full time tactical operations unit who also perform search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
and riot control
Riot control
Riot control refers to the measures used by police, military, or other security forces to control, disperse, and arrest civilians who are involved in a riot, demonstration, or protest. Law enforcement officers or soldiers have long used non-lethal weapons such as batons and whips to disperse crowds...
duties, a K9 section and bomb squad. The unit also commands the AFP's Police Negotiation Team, Water Police, Police Divers and Major Events Planning Team. In 2011 SRS took delivery of 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 rescue vehicle for high risk tactical operations.
Role
SRS officer undertake the following duties within the ACT:- Resolving siegeSiegeA siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
and hostageHostageA hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
situations, as well as armed offender situations; - Providing a negotiationNegotiationNegotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties, intended to reach an understanding, resolve point of difference, or gain advantage in outcome of dialogue, to produce an agreement upon courses of action, to bargain for individual or collective advantage, to craft outcomes to satisfy...
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;
- RescueRescueRescue refers to responsive operations that usually involve the saving of life, or prevention of injury during an incident or dangerous situation....
and bomb disposalBomb disposalBomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
operations; - Counter-terrorismCounter-terrorismCounter-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...
and hijacking operations; - The escort and security of VIPs, internationally protected persons, Heads of State;
- Testing and evaulation of specialist less than lethal weapons/devices;
SRS officers also provide support to international AFP deployments overseas prior to the formation of the Operational Response Group
Operational Response Group
The Operational Response Group is a police tactical group of the Australian Federal Police and part of the AFP's International Deployment Group able to support the AFP in both National and International tactical operations..-History:...
[previously known as the Operational Response Team (ORT)].
Their role on such operations includes:
- effect high risk searches, search warrants and arrests
- support to public order policing remote rural patrols
- protection of people in high risk situations
- support to the security of members deployed to mission.
Units
The section consists of a number of units including:- Water operations team
- Canine (K9) operations team
- Bomb response team
- Tactical Response Team (SRS-TR)
The section also provides close personal protection to important dignitaries and heads of state
visiting Australia.
See also
- Australian Federal PoliceAustralian Federal PoliceThe Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
- Australian Capital Territory PoliceAustralian Capital Territory PoliceACT Policing is the portfolio of the Australian Federal Police responsible for providing policing services to the Australian Capital Territory...
- Tactical Assault Group
- National Anti Terrorism Exercise
- SWATSWATA 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...
- Counter-terrorismCounter-terrorismCounter-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...
Equivalent State, Territory and Federal units Police Tactical 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...
Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
- Operational Response Group
Operational Response Group
The Operational Response Group is a police tactical group of the Australian Federal Police and part of the AFP's International Deployment Group able to support the AFP in both National and International tactical operations..-History:...
-
New South Wales - Tactical Operations UnitState Protection GroupThe State Protection Group is part of the Specialist Operations division of the New South Wales Police Force, having been established in 1991 to deal with extraordinary policing responses. The SPG directly supports police in high-risk incidents such as sieges with specialised tactical,... -
Northern Territory - Territory Response GroupTerritory Response GroupThe 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... -
Queensland - Special Emergency Response TeamSpecial Emergency Response Team (Queensland)Special Emergency Response Team 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 and the Negotiator Coordination Unit... -
South Australia - Special Tasks and Rescue GroupSpecial Tasks and RescueSpecial Tasks and Rescue is the Police Tactical Group of the South Australia Police.-History:Formed on 30 November 1978 the South Australian Police STAR Group was a rationalisation of specialist resources into one command/unit. Specialist units had existed prior to 1978 within SAPOL to deal with... -
Tasmania - Special Operations GroupSpecial Operations Group of the Tasmania PoliceThe Special Operations Group is the Police Tactical Group of the Australian Tasmania Police. SOG is a highly trained group within the Tasmania Police Service, made up of current serving Tasmania Police members from varied sections and branches.-Mission:... -
Victoria (Australia) - Special Operations GroupVictoria Police Special Operations GroupThe Special Operations Group is the police tactical group of the Victoria Police.-History:The Special Operations Group was formed in 1977. Its main function was to provide a response to politically motivated and criminal terrorist activity. Today, this remains the number one priority for the... -
Western Australia - Tactical Response Group -
Armed Offenders SquadArmed Offenders SquadThe Armed Offenders Squad is a specialist unit of the New Zealand Police designed to "cordon, contain and appeal to" armed and dangerous offenders. As the name explains, they are called upon when conflict with an armed offender has occurred or is considered imminent.The AOS draw upon a varied...
(AOS), New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... - 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....
(AOS), New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...