Special Operations.Com

Australian Special Operations Forces

New South Wales

Specialized Units

The State Protection Group (SPG) provide support to other police in high risk situations. They are specially trained in siege/hostage negotiation and rescue, counter terrorist operations, VIP escort and securing dangerous prisoners.

The team is on 24 hour standby to attend an incident anywhere in the state.

Members of the SPG receive the highest level of training and the standard they achieve is amongst the best in the world.

In 1991, the State Protection Group (SPG) was established as a rationalisation of the Special Weapons and Operations Section (SWOS); the Witness Security Unit; Regional Tactical Response Groups; and the Rescue Squad.

With these resources and expertise under one command NSW has a flexible, experienced and highly trained team that can resolve all types of dangerous incidents, including terrorist attacks and sieges.

The Group is directly responsible for:

 

	protection of endangered witnesses
	containing or resolving siege/hostage and armed offender situations
	negotiations in high risk and critical situations.
	high risk searches of premises by warrant
	arresting armed and dangerous offenders
	escorting and securing dangerous prisoners
	providing support services for major operations
	rescue support
	the security and escort of VlP's

The high risk incidents which require SPG involvement are resolved wherever possible by containment and negotiation rather than by armed force.

The Aviation Support Branch, as it is now known, has a wide range of responsibilities including the provision of support to all policing initiatives undertaken by the New South Wales Police Service. These may include searching for missing bushwalkers, vessels or aircraft, assisting police with pursuits of offenders, specialised rescue missions, cannabis plantation eradication, bushfire fighting and reconnaissance.

Over the past 2 years the Aviation Support Branch has flown approximately 3000 hours being involved in the seizure of drugs and property to value of over $450 million, arresting 317 offenders, locating and/or rescuing 145 people and recovering 36 deceased persons.

To increase the effectiveness of the Aviation Support Branch, specialist equipment such as rescue winches, Nite-sun searchlights (30 million candle power), DVP communications, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation systems, to name a few, are available. The Branch has a staff of 28 police and public servants based at Bankstown Airport, close to the geographical centre of Sydney. Aircraft and crew are available to provide support 24 hours a day anywhere in the State of New South Wales

Dog Squad

The NSW Police Dog Squad provides support to police in a wide variety of operations. Police dog teams carry out tracking, search, drug sniffing and criminal apprehension operations.

The Dog Squad is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Squad divides into four Regional Dog Squads, based at:

 

	Berowra (North Region),
	Mt Druitt (North West),
	Bass Hill (South West), and
	Engadine (South Region)

The Squad was first formed in 1932 and later disbanded in 1954. It started again in 1979 with two Dog Teams (dog and handler) trained in Victoria. The first NSW training course started in 1980 and the squad has grown from 6 Operational Dog Teams to 59 today.

The Dogs

Each year, a small number of German Shepherds, a breed with intelligence and strength, are carefully evaluated and selected to train as Police dogs. Those dogs with the necessary intelligence and temperament undergo an intensive training program with their dedicated handler at the Police Dog Training Centre in Goulburn.

Training

The training teaches the dog obedience, protection of its master and other Police dog duties. As a part of this process, a very close, strong bond develops between the handler and dog.

After training, all police dog teams are able to:

 

	Track and find wanted offenders or missing persons in urban, rural or rugged bushland areas
	Search all types of buildings for wanted offenders in hiding, property connected with crime or illegal drugs that are hidden or buried
	Chase and apprehend armed and dangerous offenders who are attempting to escape arrest
	Act as a deterrent and back-up Police in dangerous situations such as brawls, sieges and serious domestic violence cases
	Detect illicit drugs, whether they be hidden, discarded or buried in and around buildings or in motor vehicles.
	Provide high profile foot patrols of places such as schools, industrial areas, shopping complexes, railway stations, trains and car parks to deter crime and make these places safer for the community.

There are 14 police dogs and handlers operating in each Region and 3 located at the Police Dog Training Centre, a total of 59 teams.

The Dog Squad can be found at the NSW Police Academy, McDermott Drive, Goulburn NSW 2580