Security Response Section

The Security Response Section (SRS) is a unit of the South Australian Police Force (SAPOL), deployed to “at-risk”[1] crowded places such as large protests and AFL games,[1] and to conduct regular patrols of Rundle Mall, the Adelaide Railway Station and the Adelaide Central Market.[2] The SRS is a second-tier response between general duties and STAR Group.[3] Unlike regular SAPOL officers, the squad has enhanced tactical skills and operational equipment including combat helmets, ballistic vests and long-arm weapons such as semi-automatic rifles.[4][5] The unit is claimed to “significantly bolster public safety”[6] but has been critised as being "security theatre", innefective, and part of a broader millitariasation of the police and a "police-industrial complex". [7]

The unit was first flagged by the Government of South Australia in June 2019[8] and began operation as of 30 June 2020.[9] On its establishment, there were 48 members of the SRS section.[5] It consists of one inspector, one senior sergeant, six sergeants, six brevet sergeants and 33 constable/senior constables.[10] SAPOL is headed by the Commissioner of Police, who reports directly to the Minister for Police.[11]

Two SRS officers holding semi automatic weapons

The SRS will cost $9 million, spread between $2.6 million in 2019-20, $2.4 million in 2020-21, and $2.2 million per year from 2021-22.[12]

Deployment and Purpose

Deployment priorities are based around events, intelligence, threat levels and venerable locations.[4] The SRS is also intended to prevent and respond to terrorism-related incidents and domestic events of a violent nature.[5] On launching the SRS, Minister for Police Corey Wingard stated:

“Extremists throughout the world are increasingly seeking to inspire like-minded individuals to their repugnant way of thinking and South Australia is not immune to that. There is no place in our State for extreme behaviour and while these officers will be equipped to respond to any threats, their presence at major events will also act as a deterrent to anyone thinking of trying something on.”

The SRS also consists of 'bomb appraisal officers' whose role is to undertake initial assessments of IEDs, and tactical flight officers whose responsibilities include providing situational awareness for responders on the ground.[13]

Recruitment and training

181 applicants from SAPOL serving members were assessed by Aptitude Assessment Centre, and 81 applicants were shortlisted to progress to a basic skills course, which enabled them to apply for a position at the SRC.[14] The duration of the training was two days for aptitude and fitness assessment and six weeks of job-specific training.[4] The unit completed intensive training in tactics traditionally only provided by the Special Tasks and Rescue Group.[5] Training included enhanced first aid training, communication skills, weapon handling, tactical shooting and movement as well as techniques utilised to de-escalate situations.[4] The training is above the level of general duties, but not at the same level as STAR Group Operations.[15]

SAPOL has initiated programs to remove bias and barriers for women, and has encouraged women to apply for specialist units. A target was set to engage women at 31% of training participants for the SRS, although the course only attained 20% participation by women.[15]

Equipment

SRS officers carry the following equipment:[4]

  • Assault rifle
  • Ballistic vest
  • Pistol
  • Taser
  • Pepper spray
  • Baton
  • Combat helmet
  • Radio

SRS officers are also supported in frontline duties by drones.[16]

Criticisms

After announcing the SRS unit, SAPOL received public backlash, including petitions and protests, amid fears of an American-style gun culture.[6] Other Australian jurisdictions, including New South Wales and Victoria, have established similar units, however notably these jurisdictions have done so with the assurance that officers on patrol would not be deployed with semi-automatic weapons, unlike the SRS.[17] The use of heavy equipment and military style training has been described as a "militarisation"[18] of the police in Australia following similar trends in US such as through the Program 1033.[19] These developments may be in breach of Section 114 of the Australian Constitution, which prohibits state governments from forming their own militias or paramilitary forces.[19][20]

Concerning the broader trend of militarised police forces in Australia, Captain John Sutton has warned:

“ The continued development of paramilitary police units, which train with the ADF, are equipped with weapons and vehicles used by the ADF, and see themselves akin to special-force soldiers, foreshadows a deeply concerning development in civil policing culture, as such practices and attitudes may percolate down to the general duties police officer. Left unchecked, the very concerns that society has towards relying on the ADF in domestic security operations may become reality, as the police, who have vastly more coercive powers, are the very agents to bring these concerns to reality."

— Captain John Sutton, The increasing convergence of the role and function of the ADF and civil police, Australian Defence Force Jorunal

Within months of it's deployment, SRS officers have been reported as harassing homeless people, patrolling shopping centres in low-income areas, and hanging around domestic violence shelters.[21]

gollark: Our contact in the city's child services.
gollark: OR on water OR OTHER SUBSTANCES.
gollark: Matt, DO NOT set the person on fire.
gollark: How wonderful.
gollark: Would the *goblins* have communicated with the city somehow?

References
  1. "Meet the new $9m counter-terror cops protecting South Australia". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  2. "Armed Counter-Terror Police Have Started Patrolling Around Adelaide". FiveAA. 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  3. Minister for Police Corey Wingard (1 July 2020). ""SA Police launch new Security Response Section to keep South Australia safe"" (PDF). Premier of South Australia (Press release). Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  4. Police, South Australia. "Security Response Section". www.police.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  5. Australia, Premier of South (2020-07-01). "SA Police launch new Security Response Section to keep South Australia safe". Premier of South Australia. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  6. "Heavily armed SA Police unit prompts backlash and 'gun culture' concern". www.abc.net.au. 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  7. Brooker, Ben. "Security theatre in an age of anxiety". Overland literary journal. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  8. https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news/media-releases/news/rapid-response-locked-and-loaded
  9. "Search". hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  10. "Search". hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  11. Police, South Australia. "Organisational structure". www.police.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  12. https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news/media-releases/news/rapid-response-locked-and-loaded
  13. https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news/media-releases/news/rapid-response-locked-and-loaded
  14. "Search". hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  15. Equal Opportunity Commission of South Australia (March 2020). ""Change in perceptions, experiences and practices that support gender equality and cultural change in SAPOL" (PDF)" (PDF). Independent Review into Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Predatory Behaviour in the South Australia Police.
  16. https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news/media-releases/news/rapid-response-locked-and-loaded
  17. Marsh, Walter (2020-07-05). "As the world reckons with the creeping militarisation of police, South Australia gives them more guns". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  18. Sutton, John (2017). "The increasing convergence of the role and function of the ADF and civil police" (PDF). Australian Defence Force Journal. Issue No. 202.
  19. "Our police are starting to look 'more like a military force'. How worried should we be?". www.abc.net.au. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  20. The Australian Constitution. Commonwealth of Australia. 1901.
  21. Brooker, Ben. "Security theatre in an age of anxiety". Overland literary journal. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
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