Special Tactical Contingent
| Special Tactical Squad 特別戰術小隊 | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | STS |
| Motto | Failing to plan is planning to fail |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | June, 2014 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Hong Kong |
| General nature | |
| Specialist jurisdiction |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Wu Tip Shan Road, Fanling |
| Parent agency | HKPF Operations and Support Department's Operational Bureau |
| Notables | |
| Significant operations | |
The Special Tactical Squad (Abbreviation: STS; Chinese: 特別戰術小隊, nicknamed Raptors; Chinese: 速龍小隊) is a paramilitary task force of the Hong Kong Police Force, being a sub-division of the Police Tactical Unit (PTU). It was created in June 2014 to handle protests with its main tasks being crowd control and riot control, including when the PTU suffered from heavy blockade or obstruction. Examples were obstacle removal, conducting arrests, providing first aid, etc[citation needed]. The STS would also conduct observational and command related tasks, to ensure and review the Police Tactical Unit's use of force and tactics are appropriate, to further improve from past events. A report by Amnesty International singled out the Special Tactical Squad and riot police for "the worst abuses" of excessive force during the 2019-20 protests, noting that "almost every arrested person interviewed described being beaten with batons and fists during the arrest, even when they were not resisting and often already restrained," along with multiple hospitalizations.[1]
History
In order to handle Occupy Central, the principle of the Police Tactical Unit, Chief Superintendent Au Yeung Chiu Kong Danko established the Special Tactical Squad task force in late June 2014. From its establishment, it was referred to as Removal Team internally in the police force. As Occupy Central evolved into the 2014 Hong Kong protests, the Removal Team got exposure in the press. The Hong Kong media gave it the nickname of Professional Removal Team. As Occupy Central continued, the squad gained further attention. On 30 Nov 2014, the Chief Superintendent of the Police Tactical Unit, Au Yeung Chiu Kong Danko, officially named it as the Special Tactical Squad.[2]
The Special Tactical Squad within the Hong Kong Police Force was stripped of their special task force status, and instead put within the police structure as an official unit.[3][verification needed]The unit mainly consists of operators from Special Duties Unit, Airport Security Unit, Counter-Terrorism Response Team and Railway Response Team.
On 9 February evening, 2016, in an escalation of the civil unrest, protesters changed their tactics, overwhelming the Hong Kong Police Force, and the Special Tactical Squad were deployed as a result. They arrived at the intersection of Soy Street and Sai Yeung Choi Street South at 4:30 am, where they quickly cleared protesters. However, after 5 minutes, due to the lack of reinforcements, they were forced to retreat, with one constable injured[citation needed].
Selection training
Police officers require training in thermal cutting and obstacle removal.[4]
Uniform
- Beret: Newly designed in April 2002, created from the Police Tactical Unit Headquarters, uses soft, breathable, anti-fading and anti-hair removal fabric.[5]
Work Uniform: Dark Blue,[6] similar to other police units' uniform, including the Police Tactical Unit's work uniform, Airport Security Unit's work uniform, Marine Region's work uniform, Police Dog Unit's action uniform, Force Search Unit's work uniform, etc. To void of the media's confusion, and to be easily recognizable by the public, there is an emblem in their righter chest area, writing "Police Tactical Unit Special Tactical Squad" in English (as a continuation after the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau as the second police unit to have their unit title on their police work or action uniform). Other than that, constables must stick on coloured labels on their helmet during daytime, and insert a fluorescent stick (including yellow or red colours, depending on their team) in night time, as for easier recognition by a commanding officer.
Equipment
Medical
Riot Control
- Riot Helmet, with built in cooling net, can withstand corrosive liquids.
- Riot Visors/Goggles
- Avon SF10 Gas Mask, British made, Canadian C4 Gas mask, AVON FM53 (PTU,CTRU), Scott Frr Gas mask (SDU) can withstand against tear gas, Sarin toxins, Chlorine gases, and other toxic gases.
- 5.11 tactical VTAC LBE vest
- Anti-cut Gloves, uses 3M materials, used to carry and remove obstacles.[7]
- Fire Protective Gloves
- Riot Gloves
- Riot Boots, used since October 2003, as the Police Tactical Unit's development, produced by the Hong Kong Correctional Services. The outer layer of the boot is made from fire proof materials, center layer uses Gore-Tex materials, is water-proof and breathable. In addition to using Kevlar materials, consists of heat withstanding and penetration proof abilities. The bottom of the boot has GeoXT chips, achieving work safety standards.[8]
- Tactical Boots
- Cable Tie
- Handcuffs
Lethal and Less-Than-Lethal Deterrents
- Smith & Wesson Military & Police (Used by officers from EU, PTU and the Marine police)
- Glock 17 (Used by operators from SDU, CTRU, ASU and RRT)
- Remington Model 870
- H&K MP5A3 (Used by operators from SDU, CTRU and ASU)
- H&K MP5SFA2 (Used by EU officers)
- AR-15 (Used by PTU officers)
- SIG Sauer SIG516 (Used by SDU and CTRU operators)
- Pepper Spray/OC Spray
- Sabre Red Pepper Spray (Mk. 3 & Mk. 9 Models)
- Riot Specialized Pepper Spray
- Pepper-spray projectile
- OC Water Jet Pack, in the ratio of 350mL of OC Liquid to 14L of pure water, within a container, carried on the back or placed on the ground, far distance and accurate spray.[9]
- OC grenade (UK N225 & CHN KF-302-20)
- 37/38mm Federal Riot Gun
- NonLethal Technologies™ MP-6M5-CS /Model CS-565 Tear Gas rounds, 5 rounds per projectile, able to discharge at 50–70 meters.
- NonLethal Technologies™ MP-4-R3 /Model 373 Rubber Baton rounds, 3 rounds per projectile, able to discharge at 40–50 meters.
- Norinco NF01-3 Tear Gas rounds, 3 rounds per projectile, able to discharge at 50–70 meters.
- ARWEN 37 Multiple-Shot Less Lethal Launcher (Used by SDU operators)
- Batons
- 21-inch ASP Extendable Baton
- 18-inch PPCT Phoenix Extendable Baton
- Riot Truncheon
Others
- Gas Mask, used since April 2002, produced by the Hong Kong Correctional Services, durable, water-proof and fire proof.[10]
S10, FM 53, Canadian C4 Gas mask
- Megaphone
- Wire Cutters
- Electric Drill
- Mobile Platform, 4 officers are in charge of protecting and pushing the platform, alongside 2 officers on the platform to observe, conduct forensic filming, announce, command, etc.[11]
Major Incidences
-
STS in Queensway rapidly removing obstacles. -
STS & PTU in Queensway rapidly removing obstacles. -
PTU creating a blockade the Mong Kok Occupied Area, while STS officers push the mobile platform. -
2 STS officers standing on the mobile platform. -
Closeup of a STS officer standing on the mobile platform. -
STS in Causeway Bay rapidly removing obstacles.
2016 Mong Kok Civil Unrest
-
STS in Sai Yee Street creating a riot blockade.
2016 Anti-Interpretation Protest
2019 anti extradition bill protests
Squads were deployed to disperse the crowds after clashes between the protesters and the police started. During some of the protests in August, protesters threw Molotov cocktails, bricks, metal pipes etc., and the squads deployed tear gas canisters, rubber bullet, beanbag rounds to disperse them, live-fire weapons were also deployed. Many of the officers were accused for using excessive force during arrests and while dispersing the protesters. Most notably during the 2019 Prince Edward station attack and the siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.[12][13] SDU operators from Special Tactical Squad were also known to have disguised as protesters to make arrests,[14] in which they were accused by some citizens for committing illegal acts such as setting fire on the street during their undercover assignments, thereby achieving their goals of false flag operations.[15]
Action record
- 2014:Operation SOLARPEAK[16][17][18][19]
- 2016: 2016 Mong Kok civil unrest
- 2016: 2016 Anti-Interpretation Protest
- 2019: 2019–20 Hong Kong protests
See also
References
- ^ Hong Kong: Arbitrary arrests, brutal beatings and torture in police detention revealed "amnesty.org" 19 September 2019
- ^ Police Tactical Unit officially name the "Special Tactical Squad" "on.cc" 1 December 2014
- ^ What's the name of the blue shirt unit? "Metro Daily" 12 December 2014
- ^ Police Elite Team rapidly removes obstructors[permanent dead link] "Singpao" 1 December 2014
- ^ New shorts and beret "Offbeat" 724th Publication
- ^ Blue uniformed unit officially named "Special Tactical Squad" "Oriental Daily" 1 December 2014
- ^ Anti-cut Gloves "Oriental Daily" 9 March 2015
- ^ New boots for blue berets "Offbeat" 761st Publication
- ^ OC Water Jet Pack even stronger than pepper spray 852Post 25 November 2014
- ^ New respirator pouch 《Offbeat》 721st Publication
- ^ OC Spray and Pepper Spray "Oriental Daily" 26 November 2014
- ^ [1]
- ^ 警武器升級 疑飛虎狙擊手戒備
- ^ "飛虎扮示威者挑打鬥再拉人". Apply Daily (in Chinese). 11 August 2019.
- ^ "銅鑼灣放火暴徒 網友肉搜竟是飛虎隊假扮的" (in Chinese).
- ^ Protesters and the Speedy Dragons "Oriental Daily" 2/12/2014
- ^ Protesters and the Speedy Dragons "The Sun, Oriental Daily" 2/12/2014
- ^ CP and SDG members thank officers for contributing to Operation SOLARPEAK "Offbeat" 1033rd Publication
- ^ CP encourages officers engaged in Operation SOLARPEAK "Offbeat" 1025th Publication
