Victoria Police Special Operations Group
Encyclopedia
The Special Operations Group (SOG) is the police tactical group
of the Victoria Police
.
equivalent of a full-time tactical (SWAT
) team. Victorian SOG officers assisted the Tasmanian Special Operations Group during the infamous Port Arthur massacre in 1996. SOG are currently equipped with an armoured vehicle known as the 'Armet Balkan Mk7 tactical response vehicle' for responding to potential terrorist threats or armed sieges.. SOG took delivery of this vehicle in 2009 to replace their previous ageing armoured Toyota Landcruiser. The previous armoured Land Rover
was initially acquired in 1995 and is still is used with the critical incident response team
s.
The SOG also provides specialist assistance in performing tasks which are beyond the scope of operational police. Some of these tasks may require specialist equipment or expertise in certain areas. An example of such assistance can be seen recently with the SOGs attendance to assist detectives at a shooting involving Macchour Chaouk.
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 Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history: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 Special Operations Group. The SOG is the Victoria PoliceVictoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
equivalent of a full-time tactical (SWAT
SWAT
A 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...
) team. Victorian SOG officers assisted the Tasmanian Special Operations Group during the infamous Port Arthur massacre in 1996. SOG are currently equipped with an armoured vehicle known as the 'Armet Balkan Mk7 tactical response vehicle' for responding to potential terrorist threats or armed sieges.. SOG took delivery of this vehicle in 2009 to replace their previous ageing armoured Toyota Landcruiser. The previous armoured Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
was initially acquired in 1995 and is still is used with the critical incident response team
Critical Incident Response Team
Critical incident response teams are part of the Victorian Police Force Response Unit Command.- Overview :The critical incident response teams respond to incidents that wouldn’t warrant the attendance of the Special Operations Group but for which the general duties police are not trained or...
s.
Mission
The SOG responds to unplanned operational critical incidents such as sieges and siege hostage situations, armed offender tasks and bomb response incidents. They also assist operational police in planned operations involving apprehension of dangerous suspects.Principal roles
- 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
- Escorting and protecting VIPs and other at risk or important persons
- Bomb disposal operations
The SOG also provides specialist assistance in performing tasks which are beyond the scope of operational police. Some of these tasks may require specialist equipment or expertise in certain areas. An example of such assistance can be seen recently with the SOGs attendance to assist detectives at a shooting involving Macchour Chaouk.
Unofficial name
SOG have several unofficial nicknames within the police including "Soggies" and "Sons of God", the latter a backronym made from the initials SOG.Similar Australian units
- Australian Defence Force - tactical assault group
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...
- List of special response units