Special Emergency Response Team (Queensland)

:"For the Canadian unit see Special Emergency Response Team."Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) is the Police Tactical Group of the Queensland Police, Australia. SERT is part of the "Specialist Response Branch" which incorporates Explosive Operations Response Team (Bomb Squad) and the Negotiator Coordination Unit.

History

Initially formed in 1975 and originally known as the Emergency Squad, the unit underwent several name changes over the years and up until 1992 was known as the Special Weapons and Operations Squad (SWOS).Prior to 1992 the unit was part time made up of officers drawn from other areas of the Police and performing tactical duties as required.Since 1992 the unit is a full-time dedicated police tactical unit and is now known as the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).

Mission

To provide a specialist service to the community and support police operations by the attainment of a high level of expertise and professionalism in resolving incidents which exceed normal police capabilities.

election

To qualify for the selection course Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) hopefuls have to undergo a gruelling fitness regime. They must complete a minimum of 10 chin ups, 35 push ups and 100 sit ups, then run 10km in under 46 minutes and finally swim 400 metres in under 10 minutes. All this is done without a rest. The three-day selection course is regarded as the most difficult and physically demanding course within the Queensland Police Service (QPS). It tests physical and mental endurance through individual and team tasks, problem solving, sleep deprivation, basic survival skills and by challenging phobias (heights and closed spaces).

Principal roles

* Protecting endangered witnesses;
* Resolving siege and hostage situations, as well as armed offender situations;
* Providing a negotiation service in high risk and critical situations;
* Undertaking searches of premises in high risk situations;
* The arrest of armed and dangerous offenders;
* Escorting and securing dangerous prisoners in high risk situations;
* Providing support services for major operations
* High angle rescue
* Less lethal tactics deployment
* Water and Airborne operations and insertion

ee also

imilar Australian units

*Australian Defence Force - Tactical Assault Group
* Australian Federal Police - Specialist Response and Security Team
* flag|New South Wales - Tactical Operations Unit
* flag|Northern Territory - Territory Response Group
* flag|South Australia - Special Tasks and Rescue Group
* flag|Tasmania - Special Operations Group
* flag|Victoria - Special Operations Group
* flag|Western Australia - Tactical Response Group

International units

* SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics)
* List of Special Response Units

Related articles

* National Anti Terrorism Exercise
* Counter-terrorism

External links

*en icon [http://www.police.qld.gov.au/ Queensland Police official website]