Public Order and Riot Squad

The Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS) is a full-time riot squad. The Squad was created within the Major Events and Incidents Group Command in October 2005. Becoming operational in January 2006 {{cite web|title=Minister for Police|url=http://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/4151/bp3_16police_n.pdf|work=Budget Estimates 2006-07|publisher=The NSW Treasury|accessdate=6 December 2013}} PORS was created as a result of Parliamentary reports into the response and handling of riots in 2004 Redfern riots and 2005 Macquarie Fields riots where command and control and resources were criticized and found to be lacking/uncoordinated.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/24451b2590d52746ca25718f00064eb0/$FILE/Macquarie%20Fields%20Final%20Report.pdf |title=Public Disturbances at Macquarie Fields |publisher=Parliament.nsw.gov.au |accessdate=20 February 2015}} PORS is essentially the re-creation of the defunct Tactical Response Group of the 1980s except for some differences in charter and organisation.{{cite web|url=http://www.pansw.org.au/circulars/Circular_0206.htm |title=Public Order Policing — Paying for the Mistakes of the Past |accessdate=January 31, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009221843/http://www.pansw.org.au/circulars/Circular_0206.htm |archivedate=October 9, 2006 }} They are supplemented by statewide part-time Operations Support Group units.

In 2009, the squad was featured in an episode of 60 Minutes titled "Brute Force" showing officers in action across Sydney.{{cite web|title=Brute Force|url=http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/stories/802711/brute-force|work=60 Minutes|publisher=Nine MSN|accessdate=6 December 2013|date=17 April 2009}}

In 2017, 47 officers underwent specialist rifle training to become accredited to carry the M4 Carbine assault rifle.[http://www.contactairlandandsea.com/2017/12/18/nsw-police-get-colt-m4/ NSW Police get Colt M4 - CONTACT magazine]

In 2020 and 2021, there were criticisms that officers from the unit were using excessive force while policing protests.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/nsw-police-officer-criticises-the-use-of-excessive-force-against-protesters/|title = NSW Police Officer Criticises the Use of Excessive Force Against Protesters|date = 15 December 2020}}

File:NSW Police Riot Squad.jpg

PORS are issued with a wide variety of specialised crowd control and riot equipment including Taser{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=85697|title=Australian and World News - ninemsn, Nine News|publisher=news.ninemsn.com.au|accessdate=18 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605084402/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=85697|archive-date=5 June 2011|url-status=dead}} weapons. Their units include fully equipped black vans and black 4WDs{{cite web|last=Bhatt|first=Neerav|title=NSW Police Public Order & Riot Squad car|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/neeravbhatt/4252943271/|publisher=Flickr|accessdate=6 December 2013|date=7 January 2010}} to allow rapid deployment across the State at a moments notice. The vans allow a team in full tactical or riot gear to deploy on the move and access equipment as needed quickly, without need to return to a station to access gear as the part-time Public Order and Operations Support Group (OSG) officers do.

At one point, PORS had a water cannon truck intended for use during severe riots. It was the first time any Australian police service had acquired such a vehicle, being purpose built at a cost of $600,000 AUD.{{cite web|title=Water cannon will be used on rioters|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/water-cannon-will-be-used-on-rioters/story-e6frfkp9-1111114225773|work=News.com.au|accessdate=6 December 2013|date=20 August 2007}} The Riot Control Vehicle was equipped with shatterproof "anti-bandit glass" reinforced with wire mesh, and a heavy push bar allowing it to clear barricades and other obstacles. It also was fitted with an airtight cabin to protect police from smoke, gas and other irritants. The high pressure 12,000 litre water cannon is able to shoot a stream of water more than 50 metres.{{cite news|last=Clennell|first=Andrew|title=Wet v wild: riot squad shows off its $700,000 weapon|url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/08/20/1187462176707.html|accessdate=6 December 2013|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=21 August 2007}}{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Gemma|title=Police water cannon hasn't fired a drop in anger|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/police-water-cannon-hasnt-fired-a-drop-in-anger/story-e6freuy9-1225736494743|accessdate=6 December 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=17 June 2009}} The water cannon having never been "used in anger" was stripped of its police equipment and gifted to Fire and Rescue NSW as a bulk water tanker in 2019.{{cite news|title=Cobar’s Station 256 debuts its new fire fighting weapon|url=https://cobarweekly.com.au/cobars-station-256-debuts-its-new-fire-fighting-weapon/|accessdate=13 January 2025|newspaper=The Cobar Weekly|date=13 November 2019}}

Each officer is equipped with more than $8500 in gear including flame retardant overalls, ballistic vests, ballistic goggles, arm and leg guards, capsicum spray, an ASP baton, long baton, utility knife, handcuffs cable tie flex-cuffs and rubber bullets. The equipment is stored in station and their patrol units.{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/robo-cop-brawlers-beware/2008/08/02/1217097606149.html | title=Robo cop: brawlers beware | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=3 August 2008 | accessdate=December 2, 2013 | author=Duff, Eamonn}} In June 2017, it was announced that officers in the unit would be armed with semi-automatic rifles. As of 2017 officers are equipped with the M4 carbine.{{Cite news | url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-police-can-soon-use-longarm-semiautomatic-guns/news-story/016f7325cf77df8cd7e857123955b598?nk=3e6a2e92faed5b22116d02916ca18ad7-1521175504 |title = That's not a gun ... THIS is a gun|newspaper = Dailytelegraph|date = 2017-02-10}}

File:Public Order and Riot Squad Nissan Patrol - Flickr - Highway Patrol Images.jpg

File:SS4C Kirribilli action during the bushfire crisis December 2020.jpg

The Public Order and Riot Squad specialise in:

• riot control and response
• search warrants{{cite news|title=Three houses raided in drug bust|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/three-houses-raided-in-drug-bust/story-e6freuy9-1226067909831|accessdate=3 December 2013|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=2 June 2011}}
• searches for missing persons{{cite news|title=Police search for missing La Perouse woman|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/police-search-for-missing-la-perouse-woman/story-e6freuy9-1226061102370|accessdate=6 December 2013|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=23 May 2011}}
• crowd control
• IED search{{cite news|last=Kidman|first=John|title=Frontline anti-terror role for riot squad|url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/11/12/1131578272667.html|accessdate=3 December 2013|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=13 November 2005}}
• response to major chemical biological and radiological (CBR) incidents and
• assisting general duties Police whenever a rapid co-ordinated response is needed at incidents such as brawls or street parties.

PORS role includes attending major public protests and demonstrations, assisting with searches for evidence, people, property and drugs and canvassing witnesses during large-scale investigations. The unit also clears cells, transfers inmates and performs other security duties during industrial disputes at the State's prisons.

PORS provide core officers for Operation Vikings. Operation Vikings was designed to provide a highly visible police presence across New South Wales. Large numbers of Police are deployed to these operations, targeting antisocial behaviour, alcohol-related crime, street level drug possession and traffic offences in known trouble (or "hot") spots.{{cite web|title=Operation Vikings helps lower local crime rate|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-07-06/operation-vikings-helps-lower-local-crime-rate/91100|work=News|publisher=ABC|accessdate=6 December 2013|date=6 July 2007}}

The PORS often deploy large numbers of vehicles and officers to A-League football matches held in New South Wales.{{cite news|title=Police warn fans to behave themselves at Wanderers v Mariners grand final|url=http://www.hillsnews.com.au/story/1443639/police-warn-fans-to-behave-themselves-at-wanderers-v-mariners-grand-final/|accessdate=6 December 2013|newspaper=Hills News|date=19 April 2013}}

• Operations Support Group
• State Protection Group
• Public Order Response Team (Victoria)
• Riot control
• Riot police

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

• [http://www.police.nsw.gov.au NSW Police website]

{{Law enforcement in Australia}}

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Category:New South Wales Police Force units

Category:2005 establishments in Australia