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Public Safety Response Team PSRT (Queensland Police Service)

The Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) is a Specialist unit of the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

Specifically trained centralized police who are equipped to respond in the interests of public safety to instances of confrontation, violence and other specialists tasks beyond the capabilities of standard policing. PSRT are specialist in crowd management and can be deployed anywhere within the state in response to major events, public order and as first response to natural disasters.

Emblem

The current emblem has been officially adopted by the QPS and is symbolic of qualities of the PSRT. The heraldic components of the crossed batons are a traditional symbol of policing tools of trade and the helmet and shield represents protection or the nature of the protector found in PSRT members. The chequered band represents the Police service.

The motto "Steadfast to the Last" has a dual meaning: solidarity amongst PSRT members and PSRT members' commitment to their duties until concluded.

History

PSRT was initially created in a part time role to service the needs of the 1982 Commonwealth Games, members from Metropolitan North and South regions were recruited on a part time basis attending training days to hone their skills. In 1994 PSRT became a full time unit with a staff of 45. Since that time the unit has evolved into a professional unit with a current strength of 60 members.

PSRT comes under the command of the Specialist Services Group (SSG) one of the ten branches of the Operations Support Command. The role of the SSG is to ensure that police personnel have adequate and appropriate specialist support.

Capabilities

PSRT is able to perform various duties throughout Queensland, these duties include but are not limited too:

Crowd Management

• Assist regional operations with planned and unplanned protests, street marches, industrial disputes, festivals, major events and sporting events where police action is required. Provide a specialist cutting capability for protest lock-on.

Public Order Response

• Assist with street disturbances, out of control parties and riots any other civil unrest, which can be supported by less than lethal weapons.

Security Operations

• Support Security Operations Unit with the protection of visiting Dignitaries.
• Escort drugs destined for destruction.
• Provide a physical presence (plain clothes or uniform) for court security during high level proceedings.
• Criminal motorcycle gang intercepts.
• Assist in the execution of search warrants.
• Escort of violent and uncooperative prisoners, including cell extractions.

Disaster Response

• Assist with pre and post deployment of staff during state wide regional disaster response.
• Conduct search and rescue.
• Conduct security patrols and other operational taskings during disaster response.

Waterborne Operations

• Support the Water police during visiting VIP vessels.

Training Instruction

• Assist with the delivery of state wide Public Order and Operational Skills and Tactics training.

Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)

• Control and pilot drones to assist in operations requiring an over watch or search capacity.

Mobile Response Capability (MRC)

In 2015-16 PSRT trialled the deployment of a Mobile Response Capability (MRC), utilising structured teams of four PSRT officers with increased training, experience levels and additional personal protective equipment. The MRC provides specialist support to first response officers attending high risk situations such as domestic disturbances, incidences of alcohol-fuelled violence, out of control events and critical infrastructure protection.

The success of the trial has resulted in the MRC becoming embedded in the PSRT capability, primarily servicing Brisbane Metropolitan, Logan, and Ipswich Districts with a focus on community safety objectives.

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.

The MRC has the ability to assist with containment and cordon placements of high-risk situations until the arrival of Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and assist with hostage reception.

MRC has become a essential capability for the QPS filling the gap that exists between general duties officers and the QPS tactical group SERT. In 2019 PSRT officers on MRC duty, apprehended a male using a Penn Arms multi grenade launcher with non lethal rounds inside the Brisbane Airport. The male had been threatening a female with a large knife while claiming he had a bomb. PSRT officers also apprehended an armed Mitchell Connor allegedly responsible for stealing $1.7 million dollars worth of property.

High Acuity Response Unit (HARU)

In 2017-18, a new partnership to support public safety was established between the QPS’s Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) and Queensland Ambulance Service’s High Acuity Response Unit (HARU). The HARU works in conjunction with the QPS to provide high level first aid capability at critical incidents. HARU medics operate in the greater Brisbane Region as well as the Logan/Gold Coast Region. The HARU work closely with the PSRT’s Mobile Response Capability in a first response capacity, and assists the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) in tactically dangerous situations.

Equipment

PSRT officers and vehicles are equipped with several items of operational equipment:

• Axon cameras

• iPad featuring QPS Qlite technology
• Fire retardant uniforms and flash hoods
• Tactical gloves
• Ballistic helmets and body armour
• Sig Sauer M400 rifle
• Glock 22 .40 caliber pistol
• Penn Arm 40mm multi launcher and single launcher
• Pepper ball rifle
• Chest mounted Tasers
• CS grenade
• MK9 OC spray and vapour
• Extendable batons
• Ballistic shields
• Intermediate and round riot shields
• Gas masks
• Night vision and 'Flir' technology
• Ladders and vehicle spikes
• Method of entry (MOE) equipment
• Tactical first aid kits

Selection and Training

At the commencement of 2017, the Public Safety Response Team introduced a new three stage selection process.

1. Upon advertisement in the Police Gazette, all applicants from Constable to Senior Sergeant must complete an application addressing the necessary Queensland Police Leadership Framework (QPLF).
2. Short-listed applicants will then be invited to participate in the PSRT Physical Capabilities Assessment (PCA).  Applicants must meet all minimum standards of the PCA to be considered for a position in the PSRT.  A failure to attain any one discipline standard will result in a fail for the entire test and will preclude the applicant from further testing.
3. Short-listed applicants will also be invited to take part in a formal panel-interview.

PSRT officers performing combat shooting drills as a part of MRC training.

Successful applicants will be required to complete a physically and mentally intense 10 week induction course which will comprise of Levels 1, 2 and 3 in Public Order Policing, Security Operations, Land Navigation, Less-Lethal Weapons/Munitions and Mobile Response Capability (MRC) training.  All components of the induction course need to be successfully completed before becoming operational within the PSRT.

The main emphasis in training is on specialist operational skills and tactics, which enables operators to work in a team environment; within small teams and in a variety of other environments as per the capabilities of the PSRT. Operators are required to attend regular squad training days, which involves regular physical activity based on the operational deployments of the team.  Operators are also required to validate yearly on core training courses to meet high standards of the PSRT and the QPS.

Category:Queensland Police Service Category:Police units of Australia