Special Operations Group of the Tasmania Police

The Special Operations Group (SOG) is the Police Tactical Group of the Australian Tasmania Police.SOG is a highly trained group within the Tasmania Police Service, made up of current serving Tasmania Police members from varied sections and branches [ [http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s59767.htm 7.30 Report - 15/10/1999: Elite police group pushes hard to find the right stuff ] ] .

Mission

The role of the Group is to offer, via specific tactical training, support to state-wide police operations where police or members of the Tasmanian public have been or are likely to be exposed to violence or other threats deemed to be of high risk [ [http://www.police.tas.gov.au/on-the-beat/sog Tasmania Police - Special Operations Group ] ] .

This also includes potential deployment in a national counter-terrorism role in support of the National Anti Terrorist Plan (NATP). The Special Operations Group is deployed by the Assistant Commissioner (Crime & Operations). Negotiation is the primary tool for resolution, wherever possible, however the SOG provides high level containment skills and a National "best practice" resolution capability.

History

The SOG commenced in 1978 with police officers undertaking basic tactical training. Since that time the Group has gone through a number of significant changes, primarily brought about by national trends that saw extreme violence and related threats used and/or targeted against members of Australian communities.Since 1978, the Group has experienced several changes in name and training philosophies – from the Armed Offenders Squad to Special Weapons Squad and now Special Operations Group, a name which more accurately reflects the true nature of the Group's duties [ [http://www.police.tas.gov.au/on-the-beat/sog Tasmania Police - Special Operations Group ] ] .

The Tasmanian Police SOG was involved in the infamous 1996 Port Arthur massacre helping to bring the event to conclusion by arresting the heavily armed gunman Martin Bryant [ [http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial/bryant/ The Port Arthur Massacre: A Killer Among Us ] ] .

Principle roles

* Resolving siege and hostage situations, as well as armed offender situations;
* Counter-terrorism and hijacking operations;
* The escort and security of VIPs, internationally protected persons, Heads of State;
* Undertaking searches of premises in high risk situations;
* The arrest of armed and dangerous offenders;
* Escorting and securing dangerous prisoners in high risk situations;

References

ee also

* flag|Tasmania Tasmania Police
* Police Tactical Group
* Australian Federal Police - Specialist Response and Security Team
* flag|New South Wales - Tactical Operations Unit
* flag|Northern Territory - Territory Response Group
* flag|Queensland - Special Emergency Response Team
* flag|South Australia - Special Tasks and Rescue Group
* flag|Tasmania - Special Operations Group
* flag|Victoria - Special Operations Group
* flag|Western Australia - Tactical Response Group
* "flagicon|New ZealandArmed Offenders Squad" (AOS), New Zealand
* "flagicon|New ZealandSpecial Tactics Group" (AOS), New Zealand
* "Tactical Assault Group
* "National Anti Terrorism Exercise
* "SWAT
* "Counter-terrorism

External links

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