Police tactical group (PTG) is the generic term used to refer to highly trained Australian and New Zealand police tactical units that tactically manage and resolve high-risk incidents, including sieges, armed-offender situations and terrorist incidents.
Each state and territory maintain a PTG able to respond and resolve high-risk incidents across their jurisdiction, and inter-state when required.[1] Police tactical groups are fundamental to the federal government's National Counter-Terrorism Plan (NCTP) to respond to major terrorist incidents in Australia.[2]
The plan initially developed in 1980, then known as the National Anti-Terrorism Plan, is overseen by the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC).[2] The plan requires each state and territory police to maintain a police tactical unit designated as a police tactical group (previously police assault group) which is jointly funded by the federal government and the respective state or territory government.[3]
The Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC) defines a police tactical group as a highly trained police unit that tactically manages and resolves high-risk incidents, including terrorist incidents.[1]
Generally, the majority of a police tactical group's planned operations and call-outs are not related to terrorism, but consist of responding to high-risk incidents such as sieges or executing high-risk search warrants which are beyond the scope and capabilities of other police units in their state or territory.
- ^ a b Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (2017). Active Armed Offender Guidelines for Crowded Places (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. p. 3. ISBN 9781925593976. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ a b Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (2017). National Counter-Terrorism Plan (PDF) (4th ed.). Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "National Counter-Terrorism Arrangements and National Counter-Terrorism Plan". Attorney-General's Department. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013.