Specialist Response Group

Specialist Response Group (SRG) is a highly trained police unit of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) consisting of a range of teams capable of deploying at short notice in order to undertake a variety of specialist policing tasks. SRG predominantly consist of sworn police officers, based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), who are capable of resolving higher risk planned and emergency policing operations; both domestically and internationally.[5]

Specialist Response Group
Active1 July 2012 - Present[1]
CountryAustralia
AgencyAustralian Federal Police
Role
Operations jurisdiction
HeadquartersCanberra
AbbreviationSRG
Structure
Sworn members106[2]
Notables
Significant operation(s)

The SRG is a police tactical group as defined under the Australian and New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC) arrangements. SRG commenced operations in July 2012 as a result of the merging of the Specialist Response and Security Team (SRS) (from ACT Policing) and the Operational Response Group (ORG) from AFP's International Deployment Group. The SRG is now the largest centralised specialist policing capability in Australia, with almost 200 personnel.[6]

History

AFP has had charge of local ACT Policing since 1979, and an established a full-time tactical unit then known as the Special Operations Team (SOT) replacing the previous part-time group known as the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS).[7] In 2002 SOT was reorganized and renamed as the Specialist Response and Security team (SRS). Initially, SRS had responsibility for ACT Policing only, with it soon became apparent that the wider AFP required tactical operators of their own for both national investigations and International Deployment Group operations.

In January 2005, AFP created what was then known as the Operational Response Team (ORT), a small team of specialist tactical police able to respond and assist AFP officers engaged in the International Deployment Groups response to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), Solomon Islands.

The ORT was soon expanded to fulfill further AFP domestic and international operations and included new roles (such as public order), and was renamed the Operational Response Group (ORG) in 2006. As part of the expansion, a forward base was opened in Brisbane, Queensland, and an Aviation Support Unit was opened in Melbourne, Victoria.[8]

AFP conducted reviews (Leahy and Beale reviews) which recommended that SRS and ORG be merged in order to reduce duplication of efforts, and to centralise AFP tactical/specialist resources under a single command in Canberra, in order to improve efficiencies and effectiveness.[9] Both Brisbane and Melbourne ORG offices were re-located to Canberra[8] in preparation for the merger, with the SRG becoming operational in Canberra on 1 July 2012.

Role

SRG provide AFP with highly trained operational specialist teams capable of rapidly deploying either domestically or offshore in order to solve a variety of medium and high risk planned and emergency incidents. It can deploy and provide critical assistance to regional neighbours in times of crisis, and assist with the restoration of law and order, rapid disaster response assistance, and capacity building initiatives.[6]

SRG provide resources to three distinct areas namely:

  • International Deployment Group operations (supporting AFP's overseas operations including capacity building and regional stability operations).
  • AFP National Investigations (across Australia); and
  • ACT Policing (supporting community policing in the ACT).[9]

As SRG are significantly larger than each of its predecessors (SRS and ORG), there is increased flexibility for AFP command to provide greater resources to particular operations or incidents while maintaining other core roles and permanent deployments.[10]

SRG capabilities throughout Australia and overseas include:[11]

  • public order management (including restoration of law and order);
  • search and rescue;
  • disaster response;
  • tactical intelligence;
  • police negotiation;
  • police canine;
  • bomb response;
  • bomb appraisal;
  • water operations;
  • tactical operations; and
  • capacity building, restoring stability and force protection operations.

SRG provide the only full-time local tactical and public order specialist policing for Australian Capital Territory (i.e. ACT Policing) and SRG can also provide specialist support to other state and territory police jurisdictions when required.

Organisation and structure

Although a sub-unit of AFP's International Deployment Group, SRG report to a committee consisting of both IDG and ACT Policing executive. Although all SRG operators are sworn police officers, there are a number of unsworn support and training personnel within the organisation who play critical roles.

The primary operational components of SRG are Specialist Response, Tactical Response and Targeted Operations, and they are supported by Specialist Policing Command and Coordination.[9]

Specialist response
  • Police Negotiators (PNT or 'Negs') aim to achieve non-violent resolution to life-threatening situations through effective crisis communications. The team supports SRG operations domestically and can respond to international incidents when negotiator skills are required.
  • Tactical Intelligence (TI) engage in the collection, collation, analysis, production and dissemination of intelligence product in support of SRG.
  • Tactical Canine (Dog) provide a general purpose police canine response which can be utilised for tasks including search for offenders, missing persons and physical evidence. They also support crowd control and critical incident operations. An intensive selection and training course is conducted for handlers.[12]
  • Bomb Response Team (BRT) coordinate all bomb response capabilities and is a Bomb Response capability under the Australian New Zealand, Counter Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC) arrangements. The BRT consists of both full-time Bomb Response Technicians and Bomb Appraisal Officers (BAO). BRT respond to a range of explosive oriented tasks including render safe, explosive search, appraisal and explosive recovery operations wherever required throughout Australia or overseas. BRT are able to resolve chemical, biological and radiological incidents where explosive threat is present. BRT facilitates and manages the national AFP BAO capability including training and assessment (primarily for aviation portfolio) and Bomb Search Team training (primarily for ACT Policing).[13]

Tactical response teams
  • Tactical Response (TR) Operators respond to high risk planned or emergency incidents. The teams are capable to operate in urban, rural and waterborne environments, and are defined as a Police Tactical Group[9] (PTG) within the Australian and New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC) arrangements. TR skill sets include close quarter tactics, advanced dynamic breaching techniques, active shooter and high-risk vehicle intercept.[14]
  • Marksman Reconnaissance (MR) Operators provide reconnaissance, overwatch protection, tracking, image capture and transfer and support to high risk operations. MR operators are experienced PTG operators who are further qualified to ANZCTC Marksman standards.[9]
  • Communications Response (CR) members provide tactical communication support to SRG teams in a variety of environments.[9]

Targeted operations teams
  • Targeted Operations (TO) consists of operators trained in Public Order Management (riot control), Search and Rescue, Rapid Disaster Response and other tactical tasks in support of SRG or wider AFP operations.[15] TO members undertake a variety of SAR skills including land search, roping/ vertical rescue, cold weather/mountain rescue, swift water rescue, down-the-wire winching helicopter rescue, urban search and rescue (USAR) and confined space rescue. A number of members are trained as Search and Rescue Mission Coordinators (SARMC) and are regularly called upon to coordinate searches in ACT or assist in searches internationally.
  • Maritime members provide specialist water and dive capabilities in support of AFP national and international operations, including evidence search, body search and recovery, and search and rescue. Maritime are equipped to provide swift water rescue, tactical boarding and proactive patrolling in support of ACT Policing and the broader AFP.[9]
  • Air Support (AS) members operate aviation based equipment in support of SRG operations in Australia and overseas. They provide aerial platform for overwatch and observation, and utilise Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) technology integrated with a LogiMap moving map system. AS can insert and extract operators into Areas of Operation via various means including fast-roping, abseiling (rappelling), casting and winching. The team also delivers airborne skills maintenance training across SRG teams.[9]
  • Extended Capabilities (EC) consist of operators who provide national coordination and standardisation of part-time and embedded specialist capabilities, including regional Specialist Support Teams, Operational Support Group (ACT Policing), Public Order Management, Search and Rescue and SRG Medics program. EC assist these capabilities through application of national consistency of operating procedures, training, uniform and equipment, enabling members to provide effective support to a range of local, national and international AFP policing operations.[9]

Specialist policing command and coordination
  • SRG Command, Coordination and Planning undertake command support and planning services for SRG.
  • Training Team operators facilitate SRG selection courses and TR and TO Operator basic courses. They maintain and develop contemporary firearms and tactical skills[16] providing ongoing specialist training for operators. Training Team also have fitness experts who assist in maintaining SRG members health and fitness.
  • Logistics members provide logistical and stores support to all SRG teams operating locally, nationally and internationally.[9]

Operations

A variety of domestic (AFP National Operations) and international (Asia-Pacific region) deployments were made by the predecessor organisation, Operational Response Group. SRG still maintains a permanent presence based in Honiara, Solomon Islands as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The other predecessor organisation Specialist Response and Security team undertook a range of operations supporting ACT Policing (community policing), in addition to some national operations and support to RAMSI.

SRG Divers took part in the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand working with the Royal Thai Navy and international responders.

Police medic capability

All SRG operators are required to maintain advanced first aid skills. However, because TR, MR and TO operators often operate in remote and isolated operational environments within Australia and overseas, selected operators are crossed trained as Police Medics.

SRG medic training necessitates successful completion of a variety of course modules including basic and advanced life support, trauma care, emergency medication administration, medical evacuation and extended care in remote and austere environments.[17]

Recruitment

Potential operators must have a minimum of two years contemporary sworn policing experience before undertaking a series of psychological, psychometric and physical fitness testing.[18] Applicants must also complete an integrity assessment, security clearance, panel interview and a medical examination.[19] Once barrier gateways are met, potential members undertake a physically demanding and arduous TR or TO selection course. On successful completion of the relevant selection course and receiving a recommendation, potential operators are then able to commence either the TR or TO basic (operator) course. On successful completion of either the TR or TO basic course, trainees are then admitted into SRG.

Other SRG areas such as BRT and police divers have separate selection, assessment and training courses.

Equipment

SRG do not publicise information on weapon platforms or other equipment utilised by their operators, but they are known to utilise a wide variety of specialist weapons and munitions. AFP utilise variants of the Glock pistol and are known to use the Heckler & Koch G36 5.56mm rifle.[20][21]

SRG use less lethal (extended range impact and chemical) weapons and munitions[22][23] such as the Bean bag round.[24]

AFP Tactical operators have used the Taser conducted energy weapon since 2004,[25] but it is expected that SRG will soon convert from the Taser X26 to the Taser X2.[25]

SRG use an armoured police rescue vehicle (Lenco BearCat) for particular police operations.[26]

In undertaking bomb tasks, SRG's BRT use a number of robotic platforms, an explosives containment chamber and two types of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) suits.[27]

See also

References
  1. Knaus, Christopher (5 July 2012). "ACT Policing launches elite tactical unit". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  2. "Senate Estimates: Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee". GreensMPs Lee Rhiannon. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. http://www.afp.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/131119/10_Timeline.pdf%5B%5D
  4. "The SRS is here!" (Press release). Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  6. The Hon Jason Clare MP (5 July 2012). "AFP launches its new Specialist Response Group". Minister for Home Affairs and Justice (Press release). Archived from the original on 25 November 2012.
  7. https://www.afp.gov.au/sites/default/files/PDF/Platypus/platypus113-celebrating-100-years-of-policing-in-the-act.pdf
  8. "Elite police super group". Canberratimes.com.au. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  9. "Australian Federal Police". Afp.gov.au. 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  10. "ACT Policing Annual Report 2011/12". Police.act.gov.au. pp. 18–19. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  11. "Media Release: AFP launches the new Specialist Response Group - Australian Federal Police". Afp.gov.au. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  12. "Canine capability - Australian Federal Police". Afp.gov.au. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  13. "Bomb response explodes in potential". Afp.gov.au. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  14. "ACT Annual Report 2011/12". Police.act.gov.au. p. 138. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  15. "Articles - Australian Police Journal | Australian Police Journal". Apjl.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  16. "AFP Annual Report 2010". Afp.gov.au. p. 99. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  17. "Courses for the Policing sector". Fulcrum TRG. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  18. "Specialist Response Group". Australian Federal Police. 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  19. "Employment suitability". Australian Federal Police. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  20. "AusTender: Contract Notice View - CN53453". Tenders.gov.au. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  21. "Weapons of Modern Warfare - G36C / MG36". YouTube. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  22. "AusTender: Contract Notice View - CN123170". Tenders.gov.au. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  23. "Blue Line: AFP actions on Christmas Island". afp.gov.au. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  24. "Lateline - 15/03/2011: Beanbag bullets fired on Christmas Island rioters". Abc.net.au. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  25. http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/publications/~/media/afp/pdf/p/platypus111.ashx%5B%5D
  26. "Canberra gets a beast! Behold the Lenco Engineering Armoured Rescue Vehicle". The RiotACT. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  27. "Major equipment used by the SRG Bomb Response Team". Afp.gov.au. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
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