Critical incident response team

Critical incident response team
Active	2005 - Present
Country	Australia
Branch	Victoria Police
Role	Law Enforcement, Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Tactical Law Enforcement
Size	Undiclosed number of full-time officers
Part of	Specialist Support Department
Garrison/HQ	Melbourne, Victoria
Nickname	CIRT

Critical incident response teams (CIRT) are part of the Victorian Police Force Response Unit Command.

Overview

The critical incident response teams respond to incidents that wouldn’t warrant the attendance of the Special Operations Group but for which the general duties police are not trained or equipped to deal with, such as offenders armed with knives or potential suicides and 'suspect parcels' ^[1] [2]

CIRTs also maintain a 24 hour, seven day per week, first response to incidents including armed offender, hostage situations, violent prisoner control or transfer, suspicious substance attacks and terrorist actions ^[2] in support of the Special Operations Group. CIRT officers currently respond to over 20 incidents a month.^[3][4]

In high risk situations CIRT response is to cordon and contain an area until the arrival of the Special Operations Group. CIRT officers have a range of specialised equipment and weapons in their inventory ranging from ballistic and tactical vests, shotguns, tasers, bean bag rounds and various OC (pepper spray) delivery systems ^[1] [3]

Network Ten's police drama Rush (2008 TV series) is based upon the critical incident response team^[5].

Role of the Force Response Unit

The primary functions of the Force Response Unit are to provide support to police operations and protection to witnesses at risk. The FRU provides support to regions in their response to emergency, public disorder and general operational situations that have proved, or are anticipated to be beyond the resources of the region concerned. FRU personnel are deployed mainly in circumstances where for one reason of another, local police are unable to adequately respond to the situation [4].

In March 2004, the FRU launched the CIRT concept after a gap in the resources available to regional police members was identified [5].

In situations where incidents pose a threat to members or are difficult to resolve due to violence or other dangers and do not fall into the call out criteria of the Special Operations Group (SOG) there is another option, CIRT deployment. The provision of the CIRT has since become the main function of the FRU and an invaluable resource to Victoria Police [6].

The Force Response Unit continues to offer a variety of other support and specialist services such as:

1. Close personal protection
2. The provision of trained and qualified police negotiators and equipment
3. The provision of security for protected witnesses
4. High risk escorts
5. Prison/ police cell assaults/extractions
6. The conduct or assistance with covert or overt operations in support of investigations and /or the apprehension of offenders
7. Suspicious substance response and/or advice
8. Chemical, biological, and/or radiological (CBR) response capabilities and equipment
9. Training

See also

• Police Tactical Group
• National Anti Terrorism Exercise
• SWAT
• Counter-terrorism

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Critical Incident Response Team" (PDF). http://www.tpass.com.au/_documents/Journals/2006/June/34e7e4ed-9bb3-4189-b6cc-17c758e2326b/page18_19.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-02. 
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-trim-a-third-off-terror-unit-20100407-rs7k.html
4. ^ http://sale.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/terror-alert/1547229.aspx
5. ^ http://ten.com.au/rush-about-the-show.htm

External links

• Victoria Police official website