Specialist Response and Security

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Specialist Response and Security Team

Subdued tactical patch worn by AFP SRS officers
Active 1978 - Present
Branch Australian federal Police
Role Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement
Size 60 full-time Officers
Part of Under control of the Australian Federal Police
Nickname SRS
Engagements Pong Su incident, 2003 Canberra bushfires
Commanders
Current
commander		 Detective Superintendent Rob Gilliland


Contents

[edit] History

SRS are part of the Australian Governments 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 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 [1].

Currently commanded by Superintendent Brett McCann 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.

[edit] Role

SRS officer undertake the following duties within the ACT:

  • 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[2];
  • Rescue and bomb disposal operations;
  • Counter-terrorism 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 [3]

SRS officers also provide support to international AFP deployments overseas as part of the Joint Task Force as the AFP's Operational Response Team (ORT). Such deployments as that were seen recently in East Timor 2006 and the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in 2003 [4].

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[5]
  • support to the security of members deployed to mission.

[edit] Units

SRS officers in Canberra during a training exercise, 2004.
SRS officers in Canberra during a training exercise, 2004.

The section consists of a number of units including:

  • Water operations team
  • Canine (K9) operations team [6]
  • Bomb response team [7]
  • Tactical Response Team (SRS-TR)[8]

The section also provides close personal protection to important dignitaries and heads of state visiting Australia [9].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Showcasing special police unit's talents :: ABC Canberra
  2. ^ ACT Policing Annual Report 2004-2005
  3. ^ Police SRS team adopts Tasers - AFP
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ Royal visit to Canberra - AFP
  6. ^ Canine (K9) operations - AFP
  7. ^ Microsoft Word - Corbell Police final 07 24.doc
  8. ^ ACT Policing Annual Report 2004-2005
  9. ^ Royal visit to Canberra - AFP


[edit] See also