State Protection Group

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SPG subdued shoulder patch

State Protection Group (SPG) is the special operations division of the Australian New South Wales Police. The State Protection Group was established in 1991 to deal with a wide range of extraordinary policing responses to situations, which are beyond the scope, or capacity, of police generally. The SPG directly support operational police in 'High Risk' incidents such as sieges with a specialist tactical, negotiation, intelligence and command support service. The command also provides support with rescue and bomb disposal operations, operations requiring the services of the Dog Unit. The Command is also involved in the witness security and the provision of general security for police and other government institutions. The SPG is also responsible for the delivery and maintenance of the Police Service firearms capability through the Police Armoury.

1 Present
2 History
3 Mission
4 Principle roles
5 Organization
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Present

Coming under the Counter Terrorism & Public Order Management Command [1], Assistant Commissioner Nick Kaldas (Counter Terrorism) is responsible for both the Counter Terrorist Co-ordination Command (CTCC) and the State Protection Group (SPG).

[edit] History

Established in March of 1991, the State Protection Group rationalised the resources of the Special Weapons and Operations Section (SWOS), the Witness Security Unit, Regional Tactical Response Groups and the Rescue Squad. The SPG directly support operational police in 'High Risk' incidents such as sieges with a specialist tactical, negotiation, intelligence and command support service. The command also provides support with rescue and bomb disposal operations, operations requiring the services of the Dog Unit. The Command is also involved in the witness security and the provision of general security for police and other government institutions. The SPG is also responsible for the delivery and maintenance of the Police Service firearms capability through the Police Armoury.

[edit] Mission

Tactical Operations Unit officers practising entry techniques

To provide extraordinary services to operational police in rescue, bomb disposal, security, high risk resolution, negotiation, witness security, specialised dog unit and Armoury services.

[edit] Principle 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;
Rescue and bomb disposal operations;
Counter-terrorism and hijacking operations;
The escort and security of VIPs, internationally protected persons, Heads of State;
Building security through the Security Management Branch; and
Providing specialist engineering services and supply of ammunition and firearms for the NSW Police Force through the Armoury.

[edit] Organization

The State Protection Group consists of the following sections:

[edit] Tactical Operations Unit

The TOU are part of Australian Governments National Anti-Terrorism Plan which requires, since 1978 each State Police Force to maintain a specialist counter-terrorist and hostage rescue unit with specialist capabilities.

Since 1945, SWOS officers handled all high risk response and negotiation situations 24 hours a day across the State. In 1981 the Tactical Response Group was formed to deal with riot control, containment and prison emergency response.

With the creation of the SPG the resources and expertise of both groups were combined to form the Tactical Operations Unit, which provides extraordinary assistance to operational police in high risk incidents on a 24 hour basis. Unlike both SWOS and the TRG, the SPG TOU is a full-time assignment.

The Tactical Operations Unit has an operating strategy of resolving high risk incidents by containment and negotiation. The judicious use of force is paramount. Force will only be used as a last resort and any decision to do so is based on proper assessment of the level of force required to achieve the desired result. Unlike the former TRG, the TOU is not responsible for riot control or public order situations as it is purely a high risk tactical unit. Riot control/response is handled by the Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS) which does not deal with 'high risk' situations such as sieges/raids etc.

The TOU is equipped with a wide range of less than lethal devices as well as specialist firearms and equipment for 'domestic' and Counter Terrorist operations.

[edit] Witness Security Unit

The WSU was established to implement the witness protection program, which protects and secures the safety of witnesses giving evidence on behalf of the Crown. Functions include escorts, providing safe accommodation and other security measures as required.

[edit] Negotiation Unit

Highly trained negotiators are on call across the state who respond to their substantive commanders. When a situation arises requiring negotiation, these officers are called immediately and operate under the supervision of the Negotiation Unit.

[edit] Intelligence Unit

The main function of this unit is to provide specific intelligence information to the negotiators or Tactical Operations Unit officers involved in the resolution of high risk incidents. This intelligence might include information on the people involved (offenders, hostages or suspects), or the premises (eg. photographs and plans).

[edit] Security Management Branch

The Security Management Branch provides high quality protective security to selected police and government buildings. Members are sworn in as special constables. As members of the police but performing limited functions, the officers are armed with Glock pistols and standard NSW Police equipment and have powers of arrest. Special Constables provide armed uniformed security at places such as the Sydney Police Centre, Parramatta Police Headquarters & Goulburn Police College (Academy) to name but a few.

[edit] Police Rescue & Bomb Disposal Unit

Rescue & Bomb Disposal Unit officers at an incident

Apart from responding to 000 (emergency calls) calls, the Police Rescue Unit provides a specialist search and rescue response in direct support of operational police in situations of any risk category. This support extends from searches for evidence, to working with negotiators at extreme heights.

Police Rescue operators are trained to use equipment such as Jaws of Life, metal detectors, trapped person locaters, sophisticated communication equipment and cutting tools etc. These officers are experts in abseiling, climbing, single rope techniques and stretcher escorts with cliff machines.

Some of the Rescue Unit's responsibilities and challenges include:

Rescuing people trapped in difficult high or deep places such as mines, storm-water drains, cliffs, scaffolding and remote places.
Rescuing people involved in industrial, traffic, railway and aircraft accidents or who may have become trapped in household equipment, machinery or playground equipment.
Providing power or lighting in emergencies or for police operations
Rescuing livestock and animals in accidents
Working in toxic or hazardous environments

In 1993 the Department of Defence handed over bomb disposal responsibilities to the NSW Police. The Bomb Disposal section was established within Forensic Services. In 1997, the section was relocated to the SPG.

With the approach of the Olympics Games in 2000, this section was identified for expansion and development. To allow for this development, the Bomb Disposal Section was amalgamated with the Rescue Unit which had the necessary infrastructure and facilities to support this section.

[edit] Armoury Section

The Armoury Section provides specialist engineering services, maintenance and supply of ammunition and firearms for the NSW Police across the State.

[edit] Region State Protection Support Units (SPSU)

SPSU officers at a siege in Western NSW

To contain emergency situations (such as sieges, hostage situations and suicide intervention), 300 part time, volunteer State Protection Support Unit (SPSU) officers are on call across the State under regional command. Although the SPG TOU is a full-time unit that covers the entire State of NSW, part time SPSU operators are frequently called out to deal with situations before the TOU arrives, or in lieu of the TOU.

SPSU tactical officers are also used for 'high risk' operations such as arrests of armed offenders and forced entry raids etc as the Region and SPG Commander/s deem necessary.

The SPG in conjunction with the NSW Police Academy is responsible for the initial selection and training of these volunteers, followed up by monthly training which is organised locally. The SPSU officers also attend an annual training camp organised by the School of Operational Safety and Tactics Unit to maintain a consistency in their training levels. The majority of SPSU team leaders are all former TOU officers.

As SPSU are part-time unit and are not responsible for counter terrorist operations (responsibility lies with the TOU) they are not trained or equipped to the same level as the TOU. SPSU teams are equipped with a range of specialist tactical gear including less than lethal muntions such as Tasers, Beanbags as well as various shotguns and M4/M16 semi automatic rifles.

[edit] Dog Unit

Dog Unit officers with general purpose dogs

More commonly referred to as the Dog Squad (K9 in US law enforcement terms), the Police Dog Unit was initially created in NSW between 1935 to 1953 and was reintroduced in 1979. The unit was established to support police in locating offenders and missing persons, detaining fleeing criminals and detecting drugs, firearms and explosives. Dogs used for patrol duties are German Shepherds or Rottweilers. The Labrador retriever is the breed of choice for specialist detection for narcotics and explosives etc.

Dog Squad officers may be called upon to chase and apprehend offenders who may be escaping arrest and may be armed and dangerous or act as a deterrent and back up in dangerous situations such as brawls, sieges and domestics. They are also used to provide high profile foot patrols in places such as schools, industrial areas, shopping complexes and during large public events such as New Years Eve or sporting events etc.