Territorial Support Group

Territorial Support Group

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=CO20


caption=Territorial Support Group (CO20)
dates= 1987 – Present
country=flagcountry|United Kingdom
branch=Central Operations
command_structure= Metropolitan Police Service
type=Domestic Law Enforcement.
role=Domestic Disorder, Counter Terrorism and Law Enforcement
current_commander= Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson
nickname=CO20, TSG
identification_symbol= "U" on epaulette
identification_symbol_label=
-
The Territorial Support Group (or CO20) is a Central Operations unit of London's Metropolitan Police Service, that specialises in public order containment among other specialist policing. The TSG is a uniformed branch of the MPS that replaced the controversial Special Patrol Group in 1987, TSG units patrol the streets of the capital in marked police vans, officers can be identified as TSG from the distinctive 'U' in their shoulder numbers.

Role

Today, the TSG has three main tasks in the policing of the Metropolis:

* Securing the capital against terrorism.
* Providing a 'Level One' response to disorder anywhere within London.
* Reducing priority crime through borough support.

Recruitment

Potential TSG candidates are selected from mainstream divisional officers, Officers are selected on merit and much emphasis is placed upon their personal policing ability, motivation, resilience and good communication skills. A high degree of fitness is also required, applicants must be recommended by a senior officer (minimum rank of Inspector) whilst on division.

Equipment

Mercedes Sprinters are the standard vehicle of TSG and each van transports six Constables and a Sergeant, this being an operational Serial ready to respond to incidents. Within each operational base the unit is made up of an Inspector, three Sergeants and eighteen Constablescite book |title= Armed Police, The Police Use of Firearms since 1945 |last=Waldren |first=Michael J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2007 |publisher= Sutton |location= England |isbn= 0750946377 |pages= 224] .

TSG officers are not routinely armed, but are equipped with Speedcuffs, Monadnock fixed batons and CS Incapacitant Spray like divisional officers. TSG does, however, have its own firearms capability with officers from '1 Area' being trained as Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) on standard issue firearms such as the Glock 17 and Heckler & Koch MP5, as well as less-lethal weaponry such as the Baton Gun and Taser. Officers from '1 Area' conduct certain infrequent armed patrols within London, usually supplementing Specialist Firearms Command. In most cases, instead of TSG officers wearing standard black trousers and white shirt, when TSG police demonstrations they often wear fire-retardent overalls with their stab vests over itcite book |title= Armed Police, The Police Use of Firearms since 1945 |last=Waldren |first=Michael J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2007 |publisher= Sutton |location= England |isbn= 0750946377 |pages= 224] .

TSG is also authorised to deploy Tasers. This has been operational for some time among Trojan teams and is now authorised for use within TSG units. Taser is traditionally used to incapacitate a suspect where the use of baton or incapacitant spray has proved ineffective, and the use of a firearm is inappropriate. Taser is intended to be a less-lethal option for police where a suspect proves particularly violent and/or resistant to conventional means of arrest.

Public Order

Although public order is not the TSG's only role, it is certainly their most visible and well-known. Like most Police Support Unit vehicles, TSG vans are equipped with mesh window shields and officers are equipped with acrylic glass Riot shields, visored 'NATO' helmets, shin and elbow guards, along with fireproof coveralls. This level of protection allows them to deal with many violent situations, including Riots, football violence and suspects armed with a variety of weapons. TSG officers are trained to a higher standard of operational readiness in their public order role than most other Police Support Units outside of London, TSG training is refreshed every five weeks as a matter of routine. Exercises are conducted predominantly at Gravesend in Kent, though other sites are used as required, and encompass all public order scenarios; officers will undergo extensive riot training including being petrol bombed in large scale engagements, prison clearance tactics, football stadium scenarios, night club scenarios, aircraft, rail and various 'angry-man' scenarios, as well as additional specialist training. TSG units spend considerable time training with other specialist police teams as well as certain military units. Also, if a siege situation is present, but firearms are not involved. TSG will often be deployed to counter such threatscite book |title= Armed Police, The Police Use of Firearms since 1945 |last=Waldren |first=Michael J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2007 |publisher= Sutton |location= England |isbn= 0750946377 |pages= 224] .

Borough support

TSG provides support to regular divisional officers through high-visibility patrols, surveillance and decoy operations while also providing a presence on the streets. Boroughs are also supported through the provision of a 'Commissioner's Reserve' a section of TSG that is on standby all year round, it is designed so such a unit is always available to respond anywhere within the Metropolis to quell public order problems, be it violent bar brawl to a large scale public disorder. Day to day TSG assist the boroughs in handling and relocating particularly violent prisoners.

Terrorism response

TSG is equipped and trained to deal with the aftermath or evacuation during or after a terrorism emergency in London, the unit includes a dedicated CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear) trained team. Working closely with SO15 (the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch) TSG also has counter-terrorism responsibilities.

Bases of operations

The TSG operates from five bases located throughout London:

* 1TSG, Paddington (Includes trained Firearms officers)
* 2TSG, Finchley
* 3TSG, Chadwell Heath
* 4TSG, Catford
* 5TSG, Clapham

Critical nicknames

In a book published in 2008, Harry Keeble alleges that the TSG has been referred to as the "Thick and Stupid Group" by other Metropolitan police officers due to the perception that the group attracts physically stronger, but intellectually weaker, officers. [cite book
last = Keeble
first = Harry
coauthors = Hollington, Kris
title = Crack House
publisher = Simon & Schuster Ltd
date = 2008
pages = 23
isbn = 1847371191
]

References

* [http://www.met.police.uk/job/job947/live_files/3.htm TSG offers view inside its work] , "The Job", 11 February 2005.
* [http://www.met.police.uk/job/job994/the_job_24.pdf Having a Riot] , "The Job", May 2008.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 42nd Support Group (United Kingdom) — Infobox Military Unit unit name= 42nd Support Group abbreviation= 42nd Sup Gp caption=42nd Division Formation Badge dates=1 November 1941–17 October 1943 country=United Kingdom allegiance= branch=British Army type=Armoured Support Group role=… …   Wikipedia

  • Territorial Army — The Territorial Army (TA) is the principal and Volunteer reserve force of the British Army, the land armed forces branch of the United Kingdom, and composed mostly of part time soldiers paid at a similar rate, while engaged on military activities …   Wikipedia

  • Diplomatic Protection Group — SO16 redirects here. For information on postcodes beginning with SO16, see SO postcode area. Uniquely in the Metropolitan Police, DPG vehicles are red[citation needed]. The Diplomatic Prote …   Wikipedia

  • Territorial Operations — was a group of eighteen specialist Metropolitan Police units which were set up in 1986 as part of Sir Kenneth Newman s restructuring of the Metropolitan Police Service. The Territorial Operations units were designed to support the Metropolitan… …   Wikipedia

  • Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit — Metropolitan Police EC 145 helicopter over Croydon The Air Support Unit (ASU) is a Central Operations branch of London s Metropolitan Police Service.[1] The main responsibility of the unit is to provide aerial …   Wikipedia

  • Metropolitan Police Dog Support Unit — The Dog Support Unit (DSU) is a Central Operations branch within London s Metropolitan Police Service, providing trained police dogs and police officer handlers.[1] Police dogs are used operationally by the force in a variety of ways from public… …   Wikipedia

  • Police Support Unit (UK) — A Police Support Unit or PSU is a unit of police officers who have undergone specialist training in public order policing. Police Support Unit training in the United Kingdom is voluntary tactical training undertaken by selected candidates that… …   Wikipedia

  • Special Patrol Group — The Special Patrol Group (SPG) was a controversial unit of the London Metropolitan Police.HistoryThe SPG was formed in 1965 to provide a centrally based mobile squad for combatting particularly serious crime and other problems which could not be… …   Wikipedia

  • Group (sociology) — In sociology, a group can be defined as two or more humans that interact with one another, accept expectations and obligations as members of the group, and share a common identity. By this definition, society can be viewed as a large group,… …   Wikipedia

  • Territorial Army — La Territorial Army (TA) est l armée de réserve de la British Army. Composée d environ 35 000 volontaires, elle réunit un quart de la force humaine de l armée de terre britannique. Les soldats de la TA servent en opération au même titre …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”