Special Emergency Response Team (Queensland)
| Special Emergency Response Team | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1968–present |
| Country | Australia |
| Agency | Queensland Police Service |
| Type | Police tactical group |
| Role | |
| Part of | Specialist Response Group[1] |
| Headquarters | Brisbane[2] |
| Abbreviation | SERT |
| Structure | |
| Officers | 50 full-time[citation needed] |
| Subunits | Cairns[2] |
Special Emergency Response Team(SERT) is thePolice Tactical Groupof theQueensland Police Service(QPS) and also provides ahigh anglerescue response.[3]SERT provides the QPS with the ability to respond to high risk situations incidents statewide.[2]SERT is based inBrisbaneandCairnsto ensure that specialists capabilities are available to support police at any location in Queensland.[2]
History
[edit]In mid-1966, Jack Pizzey, then Minister for Education and Police, instructed the Commissioner of Police to form an Emergency Squad. Hand picked officers completed specialised training with theNew South Wales Police Forcesimilarly named unit and became operational in 1968.[4]Initially, the Squad included 33 men, handpicked and trained in tactics to apprehend armed offenders in siege situations, hijacking of aircraft and counter-terrorism.[4]
In the mid 1980s, the Emergency Squad was a part-time unit of 50 officers, from various sections of the Brisbane Criminal Investigation Branch and from uniform, with officers performing normal policing duties and responding to incidents as required.[5][6][3]In addition, a small six man Emergency Squad was located in Townsville to respond to incidents in North Queensland and to act in a holding capacity until the arrival of Brisbane officers.[5]
In 1987, the Emergency Squad was divided into sub-units and renamed the Tactical Response Group (TRG). In 1989 the Tactical Response team, a part of the TRG became a separate unit – the Special Weapons and Operations Squad known as SWOS.[4]SWOS was a part-time unit with officers performing normal policing duties, responding to incidents as required and training one day per a fortnight.[6][3]
In 1992, the Queensland Police Service established a full-time dedicated police tactical group the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) from SWOS.[4][6][3]The role of SERT also included undertaking of high angle rescue and land search co-ordination.[7]
SERT had a long tradition of training withJapanese policeSpecial Assault Teamofficers providing an opportunity to share tactics, equipment and training methodologies.[8]
Notable recent incidents include disarming an armed man in theQueen Street MallinBrisbanein March 2013.[9]In December 2018, SERT assisted in the apprehension of two gunmen during a 6-hour-long siege inAuchenflower,wherein one officer was shot at, but not wounded.[10]SERT contributed to the security forces assigned to protect the2014 G20 Brisbane summitand2018 Commonwealth Games.
In December 2022, SERT responded to theWieambilla shootingsafter general duties police officers had been ambushed on a rural property atWieambillaresulting in the death of two officers and a civilian.[11]SERT operators were involved in a siege at the property for several hours with the three offenders who they killed.[12][11]The windscreen of SERT's armoured vehicle, a BearCat, was damaged by gunfire.[11]The ambush has since been declared areligiously motivated terrorist attack.[13]The siege is regarded as the most dangerous operation ever undertaken by SERT.[14]
Structure
[edit]The primary unit of SERT is based in Brisbane part of the Specialist Response Branch in the Operations Support Command within Queensland Police Service.[1][15][2][16]The sub-unit based in Cairns is part of the Far North District in the Northern Region under the operational command of the Specialist Response Branch.[2][16]The Specialist Response Branch also includes the Negotiator Coordination Unit and Explosive Ordnance Response Team (EORT) who both work closely with SERT.[1][17][18]SERT has its own police dogs.[2][19]
Role
[edit]The role of SERT includes:[6][3]
- Counter terrorism operations
- Resolving siege and hostage situations, as well as armed offender 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
- High angle rescue
- Less lethal tactics deployment
- Water and Airborne operations and insertion
- Witness Protection
Selection
[edit]To qualify for a three-day selection course SERT hopefuls have to undergo a gruelling fitness regime.[20]
They must complete a minimum of 10 chin ups, 35 push ups and 100 sit ups all to cadence, then run 10 km in under 46 minutes and finally swim 400 metres in under 10 minutes. All this is done consecutively without a rest.[21][20]This is the minimum fitness standard required, and is assessed with zero tolerance.
The three-day selection course is regarded as the most difficult and physically demanding course within the Queensland Police Service. It tests physical and mental endurance through individual and team tasks, problem solving, sleep deprivation, basic survival skills and by challenging phobias for example heights and closed spaces.[20]Several female officers have attempted selection.[22][23]
Candidates who are successful on the selection course are invited to attend a 14-week training course where all the skills of the unit are taught.[22]The first four weeks consist of physical training, 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening, interspersed with weapons validations and training. The next two weeks consist of rural tactics and marksman training. The next six weeks consist of close quarter tactics, methods of entry, tactical driving, roping, fast roping and other skills.
Upon graduation, successful applicants can apply for available positions where they are put into a team where further training and validations are required before becoming operational. Specialist courses are then attended including water operations, breaching, advanced roping, advanced close quarter tactics and opportunities to attend advanced training with other police and military units.
Equipment
[edit]In April 2011, SERT took delivery of aLenco BearCatarmoured vehicledesignated the Armoured Response Vehicle (ARV), that had been provided by theQueensland Governmentand with the internal layout and configuration specially designed to SERT's specifications.[24][25]In July 2012, SERT received a second Lenco BearCat provided by theCommonwealth Governmentthat is based in Cairns.[26][27]In March 2017, the QPS received a third Lenco vehicle, a Bombcat, similar to the BearCat, but modified to transport a bomb disposal robot, for the Explosive Ordnance Response Team.[28]In January 2017, SERT took delivery of an OzBot Titan robot, designed byDeakin Universityfor SERT, that can remotely, breach doors and windows, assist in the rescue of hostages, deliver and retrieve items in dangerous locations, and improve situational awareness with its digital camera.[29][30]In 2023, the Queensland Government announced that an additional BearCat would be acquired.[31]
The sidearm carried is theHeckler & Koch USPwhich is exclusive to the unit as regular officers carry Glock pistols.M4 Carbinestyle of rifles are also used and are customised to suit the needs of the unit.[citation needed]
Mobile Response Capability
[edit]
Between July 2015 and January 2016, the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) part of the Specialist Services Group within the Operations Support Command, trialled a Mobile Response Capability (MRC), utilising structured teams of four PSRT officers based on theVictoria PoliceCritical Incident Response Teammodel.[32][33][34]The success of the trial has resulted in the MRC becoming embedded in the PSRT capability, primarily servicing Brisbane Metropolitan, Logan, and Ipswich Districts.[33][35]The MRC roles are to support first-response officers at high-risk situations to de-escalate the incident and also to conduct patrols around priority sites and critical infrastructure and places of mass gatherings to provide a timely response in the event of an incident.[36]The MRC has the ability to assist with containment and cordon placements of high-risk situations until the arrival of SERT and assist with hostage reception.[35]MRC officers have a range of specialised equipment including helmets and ballistics shields, and are issued withRemington R4andSIG Sauer SIGM400rifles, and have a range of less-than-lethal options, including the Penn Arms 40mmgrenade launcher,Remington 870loaded with bean bag rounds andpepper-ball gun.[36][37]
See also
[edit]
References
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- ^abcdefg"Chapter 2 – Investigative Process (Operational Procedures Manual)"(PDF).Queensland Police Service.27 September 2019.Retrieved10 October2019.
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- ^abcd"From the Vault – Spring Hill Siege 1976".Queensland Police Service.29 April 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 29 July 2018.Retrieved29 July2018.
- ^abPolice source book 2 / edited by Bruce Swanton and Garry Hannigan; assisted by Trish Psaila(PDF).Phillip, A.C.T: Australian Institute of Criminology. 1985.ISBN0642078319.Archived(PDF)from the original on 22 July 2020.Retrieved19 September2020.
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- ^"Japanese officers put to the test in the Sunshine State"(PDF).Police Bulletin.No. 314. April 2007. pp. 26–27.ISSN1325-1376.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 29 August 2007.
- ^"Queen Street Mall gunman Lee Matthew Hillier sentenced to 4 ½ years' prison".Brisbane Times.24 January 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 29 July 2018.Retrieved29 July2018.
- ^"Two men charged over six-hour siege in Brisbane suburb of Auchenflower face court".ABC News.4 December 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 6 December 2018.Retrieved4 December2018.
- ^abcChamberlin, Thomas; Kyriacou, Kate (21 May 2024)."Gunfire reports, SERT safety, dumped firearms: Key points for massacre inquest".The Courier-Mail.Retrieved29 July2024.
- ^Richards, Sarah (15 December 2022)."Police helicopter audio reveals how the Queensland shooting siege unfolded".ABC News.Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Retrieved29 July2024.
- ^Hinchliffe, Joe (16 February 2023)."Wieambilla shootings labelled Australia's first Christian terrorist attack".The Guardian.Retrieved29 July2024.
- ^Messenger, Andrew (7 August 2024)."'Doesn't have to be this way': police pleaded with Wieambilla killers to surrender before final shootout ".The Guardian.Retrieved8 August2024.
- ^"Operations Support Command".Queensland Police Service.16 August 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 9 October 2019.Retrieved9 October2019.
- ^ab"Wotton v State of Queensland (No 5) [2016] FCA 1457".Federal Court of Australia.5 December 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 9 October 2019.Retrieved9 October2019.
- ^"When the going gets tough"(PDF).Police Bulletin.No. 347. Queensland Police Service. April 2010. pp. 36–37.ISSN1325-1376.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 30 March 2012.
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- ^Coolican, Sergeant Cary (6 June 2016)."Just One Shift: SERT Officer".Queensland Police Service.Archivedfrom the original on 2 August 2018.Retrieved2 August2018.
- ^abKyriacou, Kate (29 June 2015)."Queensland Police SERT training puts hopefuls through three days of hell".Courier Mail.Archivedfrom the original on 2 August 2018.Retrieved2 August2018.
- ^Erin Edwards (Reporter) (16 July 2012).SERT Part 2-SERT's rigorous selection process.Seven News Brisbane(Television production).Retrieved3 August2018.
- ^"QLD spends $400k on an armoured vehicle".Government News.19 April 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 22 July 2011.
- ^Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Neil Roberts (18 April 2011)."New armoured vehicle boosts SERT'Ss capabilities"(Press release). Queensland Government.Archivedfrom the original on 29 July 2018.Retrieved29 July2018.
- ^Attorney General for Australia Nicola Roxon (15 March 2012)."New high-tech 'Bearcat' armoured rescue vehicles announced"(Press release). Attorney-General's Department.Archivedfrom the original on 16 March 2012.Retrieved28 June2012.
- ^"Armoured Rescue Vehicle launched in Cairns".Queensland Police Service.25 July 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2014.
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- ^Vujkovic, Melanie (12 March 2017)."OzBot Titan robot revealed as Queensland Police's latest initiative to protect officers".ABC News.Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Archivedfrom the original on 14 May 2017.Retrieved2 August2018.
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- ^abChamberlain, Thomas (7 July 2018)."Queensland Police Service's Public Safety Response Team packing high-powered assault rifles".The Courier-Mail.Archivedfrom the original on 1 August 2018.Retrieved29 July2018.
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