Victoria Police Special Operations Group
| Special Operations Group | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1977[1] - Present |
| Country |  Australia |
| Branch | Victorian Police |
| Role | Law Enforcement, Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Tactical Law Enforcement |
| Part of | Victoria Police Transit & Public Safety Command Operations Support Division |
| Nickname(s) | Sons of God,[1] "soggies" |
| Motto(s) | "Blessed are the peacemakers" |
| Engagements | Port Arthur massacre, Purana Task Force gangland arrests |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Inspector Mark Doney (Unit Commander)[2] |
| Notable commanders | Inspector John Noonan, Mick Miller |
The Special Operations Group (SOG) is the police tactical group of the Victoria Police. The SOG unit is part of the Operations Support division of the Transit & Public Safety command, which falls under the Field Operations executive command.
History
The Special Operations Group was formed in October 1977.[3] Its main function was to provide a response to politically motivated and criminal terrorist activity. Today, this remains the number one priority for the Special Operations Group. The SOG is the Victoria Police equivalent of a full-time tactical (SWAT) team. Victorian SOG officers assisted the Tasmanian Special Operations Group during the infamous Port Arthur massacre in 1996.[4] SOG are currently equipped with an armoured vehicle known as the 'Armet Balkan Mk7 tactical response vehicle' for responding to potential terrorist threats or armed sieges.[5] SOG took delivery of this vehicle in 2009 to replace their previous ageing armoured Land Rover.[6][7] The previous armoured Land Rover was initially acquired in 1995[7] and is still in use with the critical incident response teams.
In April 2013 SOG took delivery of a Lenco BearCat armoured rescue vehicle provided by the Federal Government bringing Victoria in-line with other States and Territories who already have Bearcats.[8]
Mission
The SOG responds to unplanned operational critical incidents such as sieges and siege hostage situations, armed offender tasks and bomb response incidents. They also assist operational police in planned operations involving apprehension of dangerous suspects.[9]
Principal roles
The SOG has different teams based in Melbourne, led by a Senior Sergeant (who mainly handles administration and major operations). There are then team supervisors, led by Sergeants. These teams are co-ordinated and dispatched accordingly, by the respective police service area - local area commanders (Inspectors) upon request and liaison with the SOG commander (Inspector) and/or team managers (Senior Sergeants).
As can be expected, the SOG is the upper level of major incident response, after General Duties (Police Stations) and the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), who don't have the skills, experience and/or training needed for the situation. Hence, the dispatch of such unit is handled with authority and care. Sometimes teams from the unit may have to travel long distances (i.e.) Regional Victoria.
- 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
- Escorting and protecting VIPs and other at risk or important persons
- Bomb disposal operations
The SOG also provides specialist assistance in performing tasks which are beyond the scope of operational police. Some of these tasks may require specialist equipment or expertise in certain areas. An example of such assistance can be seen recently with the SOGs attendance to assist detectives at a shooting involving Macchour Chaouk.[10]
Equipment
The SOG use a variety of specialised weapons and equipment including variants of the M4 Carbine[11] replacing previously issued F88 Austeyr.[12][13] Heckler & Koch USP sidearm also chambered in .45 ACP calibre.[14]
Unofficial name
SOG have several unofficial nicknames within the police including "Soggies" and "Sons of God", the latter a backronym made from the initials SOG.[1][15][16]
See also
Similar Australian units
- Australian Defence Force - tactical assault group
International units
Related articles
References
- ^ a b c Silvester, John (20 October 2012). "Forget forgiveness from these 'Sons of God'". theage.com.au. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ^ http://issuu.com/policelife/docs/policelife_winter12_issuu
- ^ Victoria Police - Special Operations Group (SOG)
- ^ "Elite police group pushes hard to find the right stuff". ABC. 1999-10-15. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
- ^ http://www.themotorreport.com.au/38040/victoria-police-evaluating-explosive-proof-armoured-truck
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf1_0qsoidE&playnext=1&list=PL5FD7A2CE3C990668
- ^ a b http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~lloyd/tildeLand-Rover/Specials/
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-12/27bearcat27-to-assist-police-in-hostile-situations/4625256?section=vic
- ^ http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=173
- ^ http://www.perthnow.com.au/gallery-e6frg1vc-1225904843932?page=10
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/4026460-3x4-700x933.jpg
- ^ http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/uploads/vic_sog.jpg
- ^ http://www.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Media/images/080409-police-7a839c4f-c88b-4e28-bd72-69017b6c2196.jpg
- ^ http://digitaljournal.com/img/8/8/8/3/5/1/i/8/8/9/o/Vicpolsogresis.jpg
- ^ "One false move". The Age. Melbourne. 2005-10-16.
- ^ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/inside-the-shooting-death-of-murder-suspect-wayne-joannou-by-victorias-elite-special-operations-group-aka-the-sons-of-god/story-fni0ffnk-1226746239533
