Territory Response Group Explained

Unit Name:Territory Response Group
Dates:December 1978 – present[1]
Country:Australia
Agency:Northern Territory Police Force
Type:Police tactical group
Role:
Command Structure:Territory Support Division[2]
Headquarters:Darwin
Sworn Type Label:Officers
Sworn:31[3] [4]
Programmes:-->

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).

History

In December 1978, the Emergency Squad was established following the introduction of the Federal Government National Anti-Terrorism Plan which required each state and territory police to establish and maintain a police tactical group.[1] [5] The Emergency Squad was subsequently renamed as the Task Force, which was later renamed as the Territory Response Section (TRS) and was then finally renamed as the Territory Response Group (TRG).[1] [6]

In 2016–17, the TRG "responded to or assisted with 131 general support tasks, 12 major events and 26 high-risk incidents".[7] General support tasks can include civil unrests in communities, outstanding offender operations, surveillance and assisting with search warrants.[8] In 2019–20, the TRG had over 30 search and rescue deployments.[2]

Notable incidents include the arrest of fugitive bank robber Brenden Abbott in 1998,[9] the arrest of Jonathon Andrew Stenberg in 2012,[10] [11] and responding to a riot at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre in November 2018.[12]

Project Acacia

In 2012, the TRG received Commonwealth government funding for an additional eight members as part of Project Acacia. Project Acacia was established by the NTPF to develop and maintain a response capability for incidents at immigration detention facilities in Darwin operated by the Commonwealth government Department of Immigration and Citizenship.[13] The Commonwealth initially provided the NTPF with funding in 2012 of A$53 million over two years for ninety-four new police officers including eight TRG members.[14] In 2014, the Commonwealth provided additional funding of A$48 million for a further two years.[15] The NTPF established the Metropolitan Patrol Group (MPG) a full-time riot unit of sixty-one officers to respond to riots at the facilities and to assist general duties police in Darwin when not attending to incidents at the facilities.[16] [17] Riot response in the NTPF had been one of the roles of the TRG.[5] In June 2016, the Commonwealth ceased providing funding to the NTPF to maintain a response capability consequently the MPG was disbanded.[18] [19] [20]

Role

The Territory Response Group is responsible for the following:[5] [1]

Volunteers for the TRG need to successfully complete an annual one-week selection course. In 2017, three of the seven candidates passed the selection course.[23]

Equipment

In May 2011, the TRG received a Lenco BearCat armoured vehicle, known as the 'Armoured Rescue Vehicle', funded by the Commonwealth government for use in siege or terrorist situations.[24] [25]

In 2015, the TRG upgraded its firearms introducing the Remington R5 RGP rifle and the SIG Sauer SIG716 designated marksman rifle.[26]

The TRG has been equipped with Tasers since 2003.[27] [28] General purpose dogs provide the TRG with another tactical option to resolve incidents and were first introduced into the NTPF in 2008 with the Darwin Dog Unit.[29]

The TRG standard uniform is in A-TACS AU (Arid/Urban) camouflage.[30] [31] The TRG had previously replaced their uniform in 2009 with a new dark green uniform.[32]

Alice Springs

Alice Springs formerly had a part-time police unit the Immediate Response Team (IRT) trained by the TRG to enable them to cordon and contain critical incidents while awaiting the arrival of the TRG from Darwin.[33] [34] The IRT consisted of approximately fifteen general duties police and was equipped with AR-15 rifles, shotguns for less-than-lethal bean bag rounds, camouflage uniforms and helmets.[35] [36] [33] The IRT was previously named the Cordon and Containment Team and was renamed the Immediate Response Team in 2017.[37] The 2000-2001 Annual Report of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services reported that the TRG had provided a refresher and a basic training course to the Cordon and Containment Team.[38] In November 2019, four IRT members deployed to Yuendumu to assist the local general duties police. An IRT member during an arrest fatally shot Kumanjayi Walker.[39] The IRT was subsequently disbanded "not long after" the death of Kumanjayi Walker.[40]

The 2003 report An Assessment of Resource Requirements of the Northern Territory Police by former Queensland Police Service commissioner James O'Sullivan commissioned by the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services recommended establishing a full-time six member TRG team based in Alice Springs.[41] The team's role was to be provision of a response capability to major incidents and the provision of general frontline policing support when they were not responding to incidents or conducting training. The 2012 report A Review of Northern Territory Police Resource Allocation Efficiency and Operation Capabilities by The Consultancy Bureau commissioned by the Chief Minister reported that the recommendation had not been implemented.[42]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Aisthorpe . Judith . TRG look back over 40 year of operation . . 28 July 2019. 13 July 2020. subscription.
  2. Book: Annual Report 2019-2020, Northern Territory Police, Fire & Emergency Services . 2020 . Northern Territory Government . 36 . Darwin . 705262905 . 16 August 2021.
  3. Australia. Parliament. Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade . Official Committee Hansard - Watching brief on the war on terrorism . https://web.archive.org/web/20070915132941/http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/joint/commttee/J6711.pdf . 15 September 2007 . 17 July 2003.
  4. Book: Police source book 2 / edited by Bruce Swanton and Garry Hannigan; assisted by Trish Psaila. 1985. Australian Institute of Criminology. Phillip, A.C.T. 0642078319. 13 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Territory Response Group. Northern Territory Police. https://web.archive.org/web/20040114100842/http://www.nt.gov.au/pfes/police/services/trg/index.html. 14 January 2004.
  6. Bomb Response in the NT . The Citation: The Newsletter of the Northern Territory Police Museum & Historical Society . May 2009 . 26 . 20 August 2022 . Northern Territory Police Museum & Historical Society . Berrimah . 1839-3918.
  7. Book: 2016–2017 Annual Report, Northern Territory Police, Fire & Emergency Services . 2017 . Northern Territory Government . 37 . Darwin . 705262905 . 16 August 2021.
  8. Book: 2014–2015 Annual Report, Northern Territory Police, Fire & Emergency Services . 2015 . Northern Territory Government . 35 . Darwin . 705262905 . 16 August 2021.
  9. News: Aisthorpe . Judith . Postcard Bandit was caught by TRG while washing clothes . . 24 August 2019 . 17 August 2021 . subscription.
  10. News: Moore . Tony . Suspected killer Stenberg heavily armed when nabbed in NT . 27 August 2019 . Sydney Morning Herald . 1 July 2012.
  11. Web site: Search for NSW Wanted Man. Facebook . Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services . 27 June 2012.
  12. News: Zillman . Stephanie . Don Dale CCTV shows police aiming assault weapons at unarmed detainees during riot . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 13 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190115082121/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-14/don-dale-youth-detention-cctv-police-weapons-detainees-nt/10712664 . 15 January 2019.
  13. Book: 2011-2012 Annual Report, Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services . September 2012. Northern Territory Government . Darwin . 705262905 . 33 . 21 August 2022.
  14. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen . Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson . Immigration MoU signed with Northern Territory Government . Department of Immigration and Citizenship . Commonwealth of Australia . https://web.archive.org/web/20120319142222/www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/cb/2012/cb183684.htm . 19 March 2012 . 12 March 2012 . dead.
  15. Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison . MOU extended for policing at Northern Territory immigration detention facilities . Department of Immigration and Border Protection . Commonwealth of Australia . https://web.archive.org/web/20140303112945/http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/sm/2014/sm212167.htm . 3 March 2014 . 28 February 2014 . dead.
  16. Stewart . Phoebe . Peek at special police for immigration detention . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Television program . https://web.archive.org/web/20131130081143/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-29/peek-at-special-police-for-immigration-detention/5126406 . 30 November 2013 . 30 November 2013 . dead.
  17. Web site: Thumbs up for Metropolitan Patrol Group . The Drum - The Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service eMagazine . Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service . https://web.archive.org/web/20130429031021/http://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/Media-Centre/eDrum/Thumbs-up-for-MPG.aspx . 29 April 2013 . 28 December 2012 . dead.
  18. Book: 2015-2016 Annual Report, Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services . August 2016. Northern Territory Government . Darwin . 705262905 . 38 . 21 August 2022.
  19. News: Walsh . Christopher . Future of special NT police force in doubt . 20 August 2022 . . 5 April 2016.
  20. Shadow Police Minister Michael Gunner . COP THAT: CLP Break Promise to retain Police . Australian Labor Party . 20 August 2022 . 4 April 2016.
  21. News: Calacouras . Nick . Raid on property . NT News . 5 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110222200822/https://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/02/05/121441_ntnews.html . 22 February 2011.
  22. 34th National Search and Rescue Council Meeting . National Search and Rescue Council . https://web.archive.org/web/20110408001614/http://natsar.amsa.gov.au/Council_Reports/documents/NATSAR34Report.pdf . 8 April 2011 . October 2010.
  23. TRG Selection Course . The Drum. April 2017 . 31–34 . 16 August 2021.
  24. News: Hainke . Nadja . Afghanistan or Alawa? . . 17 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120829183233/http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/05/17/233101_ntnews.html . 29 August 2012.
  25. High-Tech Armoured Rescue Vehicle now part of the NT Police arsenal . 27 August 2019 . Facebook. Northern Territory Police Force . 16 May 2011.
  26. News: New guns, vests for NT police officers a response to higher 'threat level', Minister Peter Chandler says . 27 August 2019 . ABC News . 8 May 2015.
  27. Web site: TASER (Electronic Control Device) Frequently Asked Questions . Northern Territory Police, Fire & Emergency Services . https://web.archive.org/web/20090526004120/http://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/documents/File/police/publications/TASER/ECD_FAQ.pdf . 26 May 2009 . dead.
  28. News: Tlozek . Eric . NT cops to get 1200-volt stun guns . . 16 December 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091015213654/http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2007/12/16/2865_ntnews.html . 15 October 2009 . dead.
  29. General Purpose Police Dogs join the Force . Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services . https://web.archive.org/web/20110317020941/http://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewMediaRelease&pID=9382&y=2008&mo=12 . 17 March 2011 . dead.
  30. Web site: Mitchell Street Mile . Facebook . Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services . 21 September 2014.
  31. Web site: A-TACS - Commercial camouflage patterns . Camopedia . 27 August 2019 . 20 December 2018.
  32. Web site: New NT Police uniform . The Drum - The Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service eMagazine . Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service . https://web.archive.org/web/20130502011750/http://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/Media-Centre/eDrum/eDrumArchive/2012/New-NT-Police-uniform.aspx . 2 May 2013 . 2 February 2012 . dead.
  33. Hunt . Hayden . Policing 'family' rally around Territory Officer battling cancer . Northern Territory Police News . March 2018 . 19 . Northern Territory Police Association . https://web.archive.org/web/20211020021649/https://www.ntpa.com.au/media/534614/ntp021_ntpa_policenews_mar2018_fin_lr.pdf . 20 October 2021 . dead.
  34. News: Aikman . Amos . Walker 'kept resisting after third shot' . 18 August 2022 . . 23 February 2022 . subscription.
  35. News: Hope . Zach . Cold justice: The tragedy at Yuendumu . 18 August 2022 . . 23 April 2022.
  36. News: Matthews . Sarah . Wounds run deep as a community comes to terms with tragedy . 18 August 2022 . Katherine Times . 12 March 2022 . subscription.
  37. News: Gibson . Jano . Zachary Rolfe murder trial hears evidence from fellow officer involved in Kumanjayi Walker's fatal arrest . 18 August 2022 . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 23 February 2022.
  38. Book: 2000-2001 Annual Report, Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services . September 2001 . Northern Territory Government . Darwin . 705262905 . 60 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050428043226/http://www.nt.gov.au/pfes/corporate/media/publications/pdf/annual/2000-01.pdf . 28 April 2005 . dead.
  39. News: Shorten . Kristin . 'I got ya, brother': how the Zach Rolfe shooting went down . 18 August 2022 . . 11 March 2022 . subscription.
  40. News: Mackay . Melissa . Sergeant of police team deployed to Yuendumu, used 'filthy, racist terms' in 2019, Kumanjayi Walker inquest hears . 7 April 2023 . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 19 October 2022.
  41. Book: O'Sullivan . James . The Consultancy Bureau . An Assessment of Resource Requirements of the Northern Territory Police . July 2003 . Northern Territory Government . 223789650 . 188, 192, 223 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050718051752/http://www.nt.gov.au/ocm/police_plan/pdf/OSullivanPoliceReport.pdf . 18 July 2005 . dead.
  42. Book: The Consultancy Bureau . A Review of Northern Territory Police Resource Allocation Efficiency and Operation Capabilities . December 2012 . Brisbane . The Consultancy Bureau . 951496429 . yes . Appendix 2, page 15 . 18 August 2022.

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