| Special Tasks and Rescue Group | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 30 November 1978 – present |
| Agency | South Australia Police |
| Type | Police tactical group |
| Role | |
| Operations jurisdiction |  South Australia |
| Part of | Security and Emergency Management Service [1] |
| Headquarters | Adelaide |
| Common name | STAR Force, Starries |
| Abbreviation | STAR Group |
| Structure | |
| Operators | 140 Members (in 2014) [2] |
| Subunits |
|
Special Tasks and Rescue Group (STAR Group) is the Police Tactical Group of the South Australia Police. [3]
Formed on 30 November 1978, the South Australian Police 'STAR Force' was a rationalisation of specialist resources into one command/unit. Specialist units had existed prior to 1978 within SAPOL to deal with emergency situations such as rescues, sieges and armed offenders situations. The Group traces its history back as far as July 1957 with the formation of the Police Rescue Squad, which was later changed to Police Emergency Operations Group. [4] The unit was later to change its name from "Force" to "Group". [4]
While STAR Group officers rarely have to fire their weapon, there have been some incidents in which STAR group officers have fired upon an armed suspect and killed their target as per operation guidelines. [3]
As in other states, SAPOL decided that it would be more practical and expedient to combine all the skills of various tactical/special units in one unit and to have specialist personnel on duty or available on call, at all times to deal with emergencies.
Further restructuring in 1994 saw STAR Group expand its role to include Water Police and the co-ordination of Negotiators. Certain incidents automatically trigger a STAR Group response such as a high speed chase of offenders known or likely to be armed.
In 1998, female police officer Jane Kluzek became the first female officer to complete the STAR Group selection course and in doing so became the first ever female tactical operator in an Australian police tactical group. [5] In 2017/18 SAPOL implemented a program to encourage more women to take part in STAR Group operations, and while five women undertook training and one woman applied for pre-selection, she was not successful in obtaining a position. [6]
STAR Group is designed to handle problems and situations which require more concentrated attention than can normally be provided by the General Patrol Police and/or which call for tactics and/or equipment which cannot be used by patrol members in uniform.
The unit consists of highly trained personnel skilled in the use of firearms, counter-terrorist tactics, crowd control, crime prevention techniques, underwater recovery, water policing, Close Personal Protection and search and rescue operations. Thus there is available at all times a mobile patrol force to assist other line units in emergencies of any kind, and to act as a support force in crime control operations. [3]
In 2006, STAR Group response to over 335 search and rescue incidents and 126 tactical/high-risk operations across the State. [7]
STAR Group is part of the Security and Emergency Management Service and comprises several sections:
The Operations Section is responsible for a myriad of tasks including high-risk policing, counter-terrorist response, search and rescue operations and the supplementation of general duty patrols.
Each member is required to develop and maintain skills in weapons handling, high-risk policing, counter-terrorist standard operating procedures, VIP protection, search and rescue operations, civil disorder techniques and many other functions peculiar to S.T.A.R. Operations. Select individuals within S.T.A.R. Operations develop specialist skills in one key area allowing the provision of helicopter aircrew, marksmen/observers, VIP drivers, Search and Rescue Coordination and bomb technicians.
S.T.A.R. Operations members travel extensively performing their duties statewide, nationally and internationally. During any given week, a S.T.A.R. member may be required to manage a Search and Rescue Operation in the far north of South Australia, assist with the extradition of an accused person from interstate or accompany immigration staff as far afield as India or Europe to enact deportation orders. Members also participate in many national and international training programs frequently travelling interstate to attend multi-discipline training courses. Other members have undertaken training courses in Britain the United States and Germany. [8]
The South Australian Dog Operations Unit provides support to operational police through the deployment of highly trained dog teams. Each team comprises a trained dog, being either a German Shepherd or Labrador retriever dog and handler. These dog teams are based in metropolitan Adelaide but are able to respond to calls for assistance throughout the State. Police dog teams are trained to carry out duties involving tracking, searching, criminal apprehension, drug detection and explosive detection. [3]
The Dog Operations Unit plays an important role in assisting to keep the community safe in South Australia. The natural instincts and abilities of a dog to follow a track or locate a hidden/lost person or object cannot be replicated by modern technology.
The Dog Operations Unit is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Water Operations Unit is responsible for policing the coastal and inland waters of South Australia and provides the capability for search and rescue in those waters. The unit was officially formed in September 1995 with the merger of the Underwater Recovery Section and Water Police. [9] There are five vessels varying from a five-metre inflatable dinghy to a 16-metre launch. The vessels are also used as diving platforms for police divers. The divers assist local police in the recovery of bodies or submerged objects from the sea, inland waters and caves. [9]
All water responses (sea search and rescue, water policing, diving, and Marine Crime Watch) are conducted by this Unit. [9]
The South Australia Mounted Police is an integral part of today's policing strategies, unique in its contribution to the maintenance of law and order. Apart from the highly visible roles of escort duties and mounted patrols, there are many ways the Mounted Operations Unit contributes to the safety of the people. [3]
The size gives the mounted officer a greater field of view than the foot or mobile officer while, at the same time, providing a more obvious police presence. Generally, they have access to the same areas as other officers and can operate in areas impractical or inaccessible to officers in vehicles or on foot.
Imposing as they are, the non-aggressive presence of the horse enables mounted officers to safely and quickly defuse violent or antisocial situations, quite often without the hostility usually directed at other officers in similar circumstances. [3] The mere presence of a police horse attracts immediate attention and provides an excellent medium for police and public interaction, particularly with those who would normally avoid police contact. [3] When properly deployed, the mounted officer is an effective and modern police resource. [3]
The Negotiator Coordination Section provides support to operational police by deployment of trained negotiators throughout the State. Under the National Guidelines, negotiation is considered the first option to achieve a peaceful resolution in high-risk incidents and negotiators respond to all types of incidents where their expertise may be of assistance. [3]
The Bomb Response Unit is the bomb squad of South Australia Police. [3] Responsibilities of this unit include the disposal of improvised explosive devices (IED) and other explosive material, clearing explosives scenes before post-blast examination, conducting high risk searches for bombs, explosives, booby traps etc. and co-ordinating responses for military ordnance.
Bomb Response Unit (BRU) is responsible for: [3]
Equipment usage varies mission-to-mission.
In 2011, STAR Group took delivery of a Lenco BearCat armoured vehicle available for use in siege or terrorist situations. [11] [12] The Bearcat replaces a previous Tenix Defence S600 armoured rescue vehicle used by the Group. [13]
Emergency services and rescue services are organizations that ensure public safety, security, and health by addressing and resolving different emergencies. Some of these agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies, while others deal with ad hoc emergencies as part of their normal responsibilities. Many of these agencies engage in community awareness and prevention programs to help the public avoid, detect, and report emergencies effectively. Emergency services are often considered first responders, and typically have dedicated emergency vehicles.
The New South Wales Police Force is a law enforcement agency of the state of New South Wales, Australia, established in 1862. With more than 17,000 police officers, it is the largest police organisation in Australia, policing an area of 801,600 square kilometres with a population of more than 8.2 million people.
South Australia Police (SAPOL) is the police force of the Australian state of South Australia. SAPOL is an independent statutory agency of the Government of South Australia directed by the Commissioner of Police, who reports to the Minister for Police. SAPOL provides general duties policing, highway patrol, criminal investigation and emergency coordination services throughout the state. SAPOL is also responsible for road safety advocacy and education, and maintains the South Australian Road Safety Centre.
The Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) are specialist part-time units of the New Zealand Police based around the country available to respond to high risk incidents using specialist tactics and equipment.
The Emergency Task Force (ETF) is the police tactical unit of the Toronto Police Service. Created in 1965, it is mandated to deal with high risk situations like hostage taking, emotionally disturbed persons, high risk arrests, warrant service, and protection details and crowd control. The Emergency Task Force is also responsible for responding to any terrorist incidents that occur throughout the City of Toronto.
A firearms unit is an armed unit within each territorial police force in the United Kingdom. For the most part, the police forces of the United Kingdom are unarmed; however, all have firearms units to provide the police force with the capability to deal with armed criminals. A police officer cannot apply to join the firearms unit without first finishing their two-year probationary period, with a further two years in a core policing role for some forces. Firearms unit is the most common name outside of the capital, while that of London's Metropolitan Police Service is called the Specialist Firearms Command, Trojan, or SCO19. Within the media, it is sometimes compared to the SWAT units of the United States.
The State Protection Group (SPG) is part of the Counter Terrorism & Special Tactics Command of the New South Wales Police Force and was established in 1991 to deal with extraordinary policing responses. The SPG directly supports police in high-risk incidents such as sieges with specialised tactical, negotiation, intelligence and command-support services. The unit also provides rescue and bomb disposal support, canine policing, and armoury services.
Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) is the Police Tactical Group of the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and also provides a high angle rescue response. SERT provides the QPS with the ability to respond to high risk situations incidents statewide. SERT is based in Brisbane and Cairns to ensure that specialists capabilities are available to support police at any location in Queensland.
The Special Operations Group (SOG) is the police tactical group of the Victoria Police. The SOG was Australia's first full time and dedicated police tactical group when it formed in 1977.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, or Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), is a law enforcement agency in New York and New Jersey, the duties of which are to protect and to enforce state and city laws at all the facilities, owned or operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the bi-state agency running airports, seaports, and many bridges and tunnels within the Port of New York and New Jersey. Additionally, the PAPD is responsible for other PANYNJ properties including three bus terminals, the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, and the PATH train system. The PAPD is the largest transit-related police force in the United States.
The Emergency Response Unit (ERU) is the police tactical unit of the Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police and security service. The unit was a section of the forces' Special Detective Unit (SDU), under the Crime and Security Branch (CSB) until 2017, when the Special Tactics and Operational Command was created to take over its operational duties alongside Armed Support Units.
The Territory Response Group (TRG) is the police tactical group of the Northern Territory Police Force. The TRG is tasked to provide general and specialist support to other units of the Northern Territory Police Force (NTPF).
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. In July 2012 the SRS was merged with the ORG to create the Specialist Response Group.
Police tactical group (PTG) is the generic term used to refer to highly trained Australian and New Zealand police tactical units that tactically manage and resolve high-risk incidents, including sieges, armed-offender situations and terrorist incidents.
The Special Tactics Group (STG) is the full-time police tactical group of the New Zealand Police. The STG, originally named the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), was established to respond to high-risk situations which are beyond the scope or capacity of everyday policing. STG officers directly support operational police in incidents, such as sieges, with specialist tactical, negotiation, intelligence, and command support services.
The Emergency Service Unit(ESU) is part of the Special Operations Bureau of the New York City Police Department. The unit provides specialized support and advanced equipment to other NYPD units. Members of ESU are cross-trained in multiple disciplines for police, medical, and rescue work.
The Lenco BearCat is a wheeled SWAT vehicle designed for military and law enforcement use. It is in use by several military forces and law enforcement agencies around the world.
The Specialist Protective Services (SPS) 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. SPS predominantly consist of sworn police officers, based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), who are capable of resolving high risk planned and emergency policing operations; both domestically and internationally.
The Security Response Section (SRS) is a unit of the South Australia Police, deployed to “at-risk” crowded places such as large protests and AFL games, and to conduct regular patrols of Rundle Mall, the Adelaide Railway Station and the Adelaide Central Market. The SRS is a second-tier response between general duties and Special Tasks and Rescue. Unlike regular police officers, the unit has enhanced tactical skills and operational equipment including combat helmets, ballistic vests and long-arm weapons such as semi-automatic rifles. The unit is claimed to “significantly bolster public safety”.