Specialist Operations (New South Wales)

The Specialist Operations is a division within the New South Wales Police Force (NSW Police Force) that is responsible for a range of specialist groups of the police force. The division is headed by the deputy commissioner of the NSW Police, whose position is currently occupied by Nick Kaldas.

Groups

The Specialist Operations division is further divided into subgroups which are:

• Operations Communications & Information Group;
• Forensics Services Group;
• Special Services Group;
• Counter Terrorism & Special Tactics Command;
• Public Affairs Branch; and
• Professional Standards Command.

Major units

Mounted Police Unit

The New South Wales Mounted Police is the oldest continuous mounted police unit in the world. Founded in September 1825 by Governor Thomas Brisbane, the Mounted Police were recruited from a British military regiment stationed in NSW at the time to protect travellers and suppress convict escapees. For over a century they were a key part of policing as horses were the main form of transport.

Duties include traffic and crowd management, patrols, and ceremonial protocol duties. The 34 horses used today are bay geldings, 16 hands high and include a number of ex-race horses. They are between three and seven years old when received and retire at about 20 years of age.

The New South Wales Mounted Police perform the Musical Ride at Sydney shows and at larger country shows. The musical ride consists of a series of precision drill movements performed in time to the music of the New South Wales Police Band, over an area measuring 100 metres by 50 metres and is approximately 20 minutes duration. This exhibition has received acclaim from many overseas visitors and is considered to be one of the most spectacular rides in the world.

Inspector (ret) D H EYB APM (then Commander of the NSW Mounted Police Unit) was responsible for the training, co-ordination and presentation of 120 horses and riders for the welcome segment of the Opening Ceremony at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The lances carried by NSW Mounted Police Unit, whilst on parade were presented to the Troop in 1957 by General Carriapa, High Commissioner for India.

State Protection Group

Under the Counter Terrorism & Special Tactics Command, the NSW Police State Protection Group contains a number of highly trained and specialised units such as the Police Rescue & Bomb Disposal Unit, Dog Squad, Tactical Operations Unit and Witness Security Unit to name but a few.

Marine Area Command

NSW has a large and busy coastline leading to an expansive system of waterways. The NSW Police Marine Area Command's (MAC) responsibility extends to all coastal area's of NSW to 200 nautical miles (400 km) out to sea. From the earliest days of settlement, the state has required a dedicated water based policing service. The services provided by MAC are similar to those carried out by land-based police, including crime prevention and detection,search and rescue.

Police vessels and personnel are strategically located at important commercial and leisure ports with the base at Balmain on Sydney Harbour. They are also based at Broken Bay, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Coffs Harbour, Botany Bay, Port Kembla and most recently Eden. Some remote country waterways are serviced by their Local Area Commands such as Deniliquin in the State's far south west.

NSW Water Police hold the distinction of being the first civilian form of policing established in NSW. In 1789, one year after the colony was founded, Governor Phillip created a 'Row Boat Guard' to patrol Sydney Cove for smugglers and convicts attempting to pass letters to ships anchored in the harbour.

By 1830 an independent Water Police Force was operating. It was merged, with all other Police units, into the NSW Police Department in 1862. In the late-19th century, the Water Police entered the 'modern era' of combustion engines with two steam launches, the 'Bileola' and the 'Argus'. These were used for nearly 35 years before they were replaced with motor launches.

With the introduction of the NSW Police Marine Area Command in July 1999, equipment includes 11 sea going craft and a number of smaller boats, all with electronic navigational aids. MAC employs 123 personnel, including operational water police, marine intelligence unit, marine crime prevention officer, divers, detectives and the marine operational support team (MOST)

Their duties include:

• policing the waterways of NSW to reduce marine crime
• protecting life and property, both at sea and on inland waters
• overseeing aquatic events and controlling spectator craft
• coordinating search and rescue off the coast of NSW
• carrying out diving operations and underwater searches for missing persons and evidence
• maintain and service police launches
• addressing marine crime prevention issues
• safety and compliance reinforcement

See also

• NSW Police Force
• State Protection Group

External links

• Specialist Operations - New South Wales Police