:Specialist Response and Security
{{EngvarB|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Specialist Response and Security Team
|image=
|caption=
|country= {{flagicon|Australia}} Australia
|branch= Australian Federal Police
|dates= 1978–2012
|role= Law Enforcement, Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Tactical Law Enforcement
|command_structure= Australian Federal Police
|size= 36 full-time Officers [http://www.afp.gov.au/media_releases/act/2003/the_srs_is_here!.html]
|current_commander= Detective Superintendent Rob Gilliland
|garrison= Canberra City ACT
|ceremonial_chief=
|nickname= SRS
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles= Pong Su incident [http://www.afp.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/131119/10_Timeline.pdf]
2003 Canberra bushfires[http://www.afp.gov.au/media_releases/act/2003/the_srs_is_here!.html]
Operation Linnet
1993 Jolimont Centre siege
|notable_commanders=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
}}
Until July 2012 the Specialist Response and Security Team (SRS) was a Police Tactical Group of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) having responsibility for tactical and specialist operations within the Australian Capital Territory. The Operational Response Group (ORG) had responsibility for AFP National and International tactical operations.{{cite web |url=http://www.afp.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/89127/AFPAnrep2007-08.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=31 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710162452/http://www.afp.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/89127/AFPAnrep2007-08.pdf |archivedate=10 July 2009 }} In July 2012 the SRS was merged with the ORG to create the Specialist Response Group.
History
The SRS formed part of the Australian Government's National Anti-Terrorism Plan which required each State/Territory Police Force to maintain a specialist counter-terrorist and hostage rescue unit with specialist capabilities. The SRS fulfilled that role within the Australian Capital Territory, until the formation of the SRG.
In 1964 the AFP created the "Armed Offenders Squad" after officers attended a New South Wales Police Force "Emergency Squad" training course. This unit was under the control of Detectives and worked on a part-time as needed basis.{{cite journal|title=The AFP Special Operations Team (AFPSOT)|journal=Australian Federal Police Association Journal|volume=2, No. 4|issue=Summer 1998/99|pages=7–10|url=https://www.afpa.org.au/sites/default/files/publications/535.pdf|accessdate=24 April 2017|location=North Melbourne}} As a result of SACPAV recommendations after the 1978 Sydney Hilton bombing several members of the Army's elite Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) were employed as Commonwealth Police in order to create the "Commonwealth Police Counter Terrorist Operations Section" which was dissolved in 1981 after the CHOGM meeting held in Melbourne. In 1983, the "Special Operations Team" (SOT) was formed. In 2002, following 9/11 the SOT underwent significant changes. In March 2003, the SOT was renamed to the Specialist Response and Security section.[http://www.abc.net.au/canberra/stories/s789990.htm Showcasing special police unit's talents :: ABC Canberra]{{cite journal|title=Out of the Ashes – Rebuilding the ACT Front Line|journal=Australian Federal Police Association Journal|volume=1|issue=2004|page=22|url=https://www.afpa.org.au/sites/default/files/publications/451.pdf|accessdate=24 April 2017|location=North Melbourne}}
In October 1998, the SOT participated in Operation Linnet, a land and sea operation off Port Macquarie that resulted in the seizure of 390 kg of heroin.{{cite book|title=Australian Federal Police – The First Thirty Years|date=2009|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|location=Canberra|isbn=9780646525884|page=47|url=https://www.afp.gov.au/sites/default/files/PDF/afp-the-first-thirty-years.pdf|accessdate=24 April 2017}} The SOT boarded the Belize-registered freighter Uniana suspected of smuggling the heroin to Australia from south-east Asia.{{cite web|title=A brief history of the Australian Federal Police : 1979–2004|url=http://www.afp.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/3728/BriefHistoryOfAFP1979-2004.pdf|website=Australian Federal Police|publisher=AFP Museum|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731081734/http://www.afp.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/3728/BriefHistoryOfAFP1979-2004.pdf|archivedate=31 July 2008}}
Specialist Response and Security (SRS) section of ACT Policing provided a full-time tactical operations unit who also performed search and rescue and riot control duties, a K9 role and bomb squad. The unit also commanded the AFP's Police Negotiation Team, Water Police, Police Divers and Major Events Planning Team. In 2011 SRS took delivery of Lenco BearCat armoured rescue vehicle for high risk tactical operations.{{Cite web|url=http://the-riotact.com/canberra-gets-a-beast-behold-the-lenco-engineering-armoured-rescue-vehicle/44778|title = Canberra gets a beast! Behold the Lenco Engineering Armoured Rescue Vehicle}}
Role
SRS officers undertook 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;[https://www.aps.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/3659/actpolicing_ar0405.pdf ACT Policing Annual Report 2004-2005]
- Rescue and bomb disposal operations;
- Counter-terrorism and hijacking operations;
- The escort and security of VIPs, internationally protected persons, Heads of State;
- Testing and evaluation of specialist less than lethal weapons/devices;[http://www.afp.gov.au/media_releases/act/2006/police_srs_team_adopts_tasers Police SRS team adopts Tasers – AFP]
On occasion, SRS officers also provided support to international AFP deployments overseas prior to the formation of the Operational Response Group [previously known as the Operational Response Team (ORT)].{{cite web |url=http://www.afp.gov.au/international/IDG/operational_response_group/tactical_response_teams.html |title=Tactical Response Teams (TRT) - AFP |website=www.afp.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610103528/http://www.afp.gov.au/international/IDG/operational_response_group/tactical_response_teams.html |archive-date=2007-06-10}}
Their role on such operations included:
- effect high risk searches, search warrants and arrests
- support to public order policing remote rural patrols
- protection of people in high risk situations[https://aps.gov.au/act/on_the_beat/on_the_beat_archives/2006/14_march Royal visit to Canberra – AFP]
- support to the security of members deployed to mission.
Units
The section consisted of a number of units including:
- Water operations team
- Canine (K9) operations team[https://www.aps.gov.au/act/action/current_operations/canine_k9_operations Canine (K9) operations – AFP]
- Bomb response team[http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/downloads/issues-papers/Corbell%20Police.pdf Microsoft Word – Corbell Police final 07 24.doc]
- Tactical Response Team (SRS-TR)
The section also provided close personal protection to important dignitaries and heads of state
Unit Closure
The SRS merged with Operational Response Group as part of a major restructuring process that was designed to reduce the duplication between specialist AFP and ACT Policing units and national AFP assets into one command and located in Canberra. The Specialist Response Group commenced operations on 1 July 2012.Elite police super group http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/elite-police-super-group-20120202-1t8fa.html