Territory Response Group

The Territory Response Group (TRG) is the police tactical group of the Northern Territory Police Force. The TRG is tasked to provide general and specialist support to other units of the Northern Territory Police Force (NTPF).[5]

Territory Response Group
ActiveDecember 1978 – present[1]
CountryAustralia
AgencyNorthern Territory Police Force
TypePolice tactical unit
Role
Part ofTerritory Support Division[2]
HeadquartersDarwin
Structure
Officers31[3][4]

History

In December 1978, the Emergency Squad was established following the introduction of the Federal Government National Anti-Terrorism Plan which required each state and territory police to establish and maintain a police tactical group.[1][5] The Emergency Squad was subsequently renamed as the Task Force, which was later renamed as the Territory Response Section (TRS) and was then finally renamed as the Territory Response Group (TRG).[1][6]

In 2016–17, the TRG "responded to or assisted with 131 general support tasks, 12 major events and 26 high-risk incidents".[7] General support tasks can include civil unrests in communities, outstanding offender operations, surveillance and assisting with search warrants.[8] In 2019–20, the TRG had over 30 search and rescue deployments.[2]

Notable incidents include the arrest of fugitive bank robber Brenden Abbott in 1998,[9] the arrest of Jonathon Andrew Stenberg in 2012,[10][11] and responding to a riot at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre in November 2018.[12]

Project Acacia

In 2012, the TRG received Commonwealth government funding for an additional eight members as part of Project Acacia. Project Acacia was established by the NTPF to develop and maintain a response capability for incidents at immigration detention facilities in Darwin operated by the Commonwealth government Department of Immigration and Citizenship.[13][14] The Commonwealth initially provided the NTPF with funding in 2012 of A$53 million over two years for ninety-four new police officers including eight TRG members.[15][16] In 2014, the Commonwealth provided additional funding of A$48 million for a further two years.[17] The NTPF established the Metropolitan Patrol Group (MPG) a full-time riot unit of sixty-one officers to respond to riots at the facilities and to assist general duties police in Darwin when not attending to incidents at the facilities.[18][19][20] Riot response in the NTPF had been one of the roles of the TRG.[5] In June 2016, the Commonwealth ceased providing funding to the NTPF to maintain a response capability consequently the MPG was disbanded.[21][22][23]

Role

The Territory Response Group is responsible for the following:[5][1]

  • Police Tactical Group: Provides a tactical response capability to deal with the containment and resolution of violent offences beyond the capability of general duties police.
  • Bomb Response Unit: Responds to civilian improvised explosive or incendiary devices incidents.[24]
  • Close Personal Protection: Responsible for the co-ordination of personal protection of witnesses or dignitaries within the Northern Territory.
  • Public disorder: Provides a response to demonstrations, including prison riots, and civil unrest in remote communities.
  • Search and rescue: Provide land based search co-ordination and manpower at short notice.[25]
  • Counter disaster operations: Provides survey and rescue teams to provide a framework for operations in the field in conjunction with other government departments.
  • Providing general frontline policing support.[2]

Volunteers for the TRG need to successfully complete an annual one-week selection course. In 2017, three of the seven candidates passed the selection course.[26]

Equipment

In May 2011, the TRG received a Lenco BearCat armoured vehicle, known as the 'Armoured Rescue Vehicle', funded by the Commonwealth government for use in siege or terrorist situations.[27][28]

In 2015, the TRG upgraded its firearms introducing the Remington R5 RGP rifle and the SIG Sauer SIG716 designated marksman rifle.[29]

The TRG has been equipped with Tasers since 2003.[30][31] General purpose dogs provide the TRG with another tactical option to resolve incidents and were first introduced into the NTPF in 2008 with the Darwin Dog Unit.[32]

The TRG standard uniform is in A-TACS AU (Arid/Urban) camouflage with the TRG the only police tactical group in Australia to use this camouflage.[33][34] The TRG had previously replaced their uniform in 2009 with a new dark green uniform.[35]

Alice Springs

The 2003 report An Assessment of Resource Requirements of the Northern Territory Police by former Queensland Police Service commissioner James O'Sullivan commissioned by the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services recommended establishing a full-time six member TRG team based in Alice Springs.[36] The team's role was to be provision of a response capability to major incidents and the provision of general frontline policing support when they were not responding to incidents or conducting training.[37] The 2012 report A Review of Northern Territory Police Resource Allocation Efficiency and Operation Capabilities by The Consultancy Bureau commissioned by the Chief Minister reported that the recommendation had not been implemented.[38]

The TRG trains the part-time Immediate Response Team (IRT) based in Alice Springs to enable them to cordon and contain critical incidents while awaiting the arrival of the TRG from Darwin.[39][40] The IRT consists of approximately fifteen general duties police and is equipped with AR-15 rifles, shotguns for less-than-lethal bean bag rounds, camouflage uniforms and helmets.[41][42][39] The IRT was previously named the Cordon and Containment Team and was renamed the Immediate Response Team in 2017.[43] The 2000-2001 Annual Report of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services reported that the TRG had provided a refresher and a basic training course to the Cordon and Containment Team.[44] In November 2019, four IRT members deployed to Yuendumu to assist the local general duties police. An IRT member during an arrest fatally shot Kumanjayi Walker.[45] The IRT was disbanded "not long after" the death of Kumanjayi Walker.[46]

References
  1. Aisthorpe, Judith (28 July 2019). "TRG look back over 40 year of operation". NT News. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. Annual Report 2019-2020, Northern Territory Police, Fire & Emergency Services (PDF). Darwin: Northern Territory Government. 2020. p. 36. OCLC 705262905. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  3. Australia. Parliament. Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (17 July 2003). Official Committee Hansard - Watching brief on the war on terrorism (PDF) (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2007.
  4. Police source book 2 / edited by Bruce Swanton and Garry Hannigan; assisted by Trish Psaila (PDF). Phillip, A.C.T: Australian Institute of Criminology. 1985. ISBN 0642078319. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  5. "Territory Response Group". Northern Territory Police. Archived from the original on 14 January 2004.
  6. "Bomb Response in the NT" (PDF). The Citation: The Newsletter of the Northern Territory Police Museum & Historical Society. Berrimah: Northern Territory Police Museum & Historical Society: 26. May 2009. ISSN 1839-3918. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  7. 2016–2017 Annual Report, Northern Territory Police, Fire & Emergency Services (PDF). Darwin: Northern Territory Government. 2017. p. 37. OCLC 705262905. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  8. 2014–2015 Annual Report, Northern Territory Police, Fire & Emergency Services (PDF). Darwin: Northern Territory Government. 2015. p. 35. OCLC 705262905. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  9. Aisthorpe, Judith (24 August 2019). "Postcard Bandit was caught by TRG while washing clothes". NT News. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  10. Moore, Tony (1 July 2012). "Suspected killer Stenberg heavily armed when nabbed in NT". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  11. "Search for NSW Wanted Man". Facebook. Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services. 27 June 2012.
  12. Zillman, Stephanie (13 January 2019). "Don Dale CCTV shows police aiming assault weapons at unarmed detainees during riot". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019.
  13. The Consultancy Bureau 2012, pp. 113, 192.
  14. 2011-2012 Annual Report, Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services (PDF). Darwin: Northern Territory Government. September 2012. p. 33. OCLC 705262905. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  15. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen; Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson (12 March 2012). "Immigration MoU signed with Northern Territory Government". Department of Immigration and Citizenship (Press release). Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012.
  16. The Consultancy Bureau 2012, pp. 24, 133.
  17. Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison (28 February 2014). "MOU extended for policing at Northern Territory immigration detention facilities". Department of Immigration and Border Protection (Press release). Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014.
  18. The Consultancy Bureau 2012, pp. 133.
  19. Stewart, Phoebe (30 November 2013). Peek at special police for immigration detention. 7.30 (Television program). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 30 November 2013.
  20. "Thumbs up for Metropolitan Patrol Group". The Drum - The Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service eMagazine. Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013.
  21. 2015-2016 Annual Report, Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services (PDF). Darwin: Northern Territory Government. August 2016. p. 38. OCLC 705262905. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  22. Walsh, Christopher (5 April 2016). "Future of special NT police force in doubt". NT News. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  23. Shadow Police Minister Michael Gunner (4 April 2016). "COP THAT: CLP Break Promise to retain Police" (Press release). Australian Labor Party. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  24. Calacouras, Nick (5 February 2010). "Raid on property". NT News. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011.
  25. 34th National Search and Rescue Council Meeting (PDF) (Report). National Search and Rescue Council. October 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2011.
  26. "TRG Selection Course" (PDF). The Drum: 31–34. April 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  27. Hainke, Nadja (17 May 2011). "Afghanistan or Alawa?". NT News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012.
  28. "High-Tech Armoured Rescue Vehicle now part of the NT Police arsenal". Facebook (Press release). Northern Territory Police Force. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  29. "New guns, vests for NT police officers a response to higher 'threat level', Minister Peter Chandler says". ABC News. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  30. "TASER (Electronic Control Device) Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). Northern Territory Police, Fire & Emergency Services. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2009.
  31. Tlozek, Eric (16 December 2007). "NT cops to get 1200-volt stun guns". NT News. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009.
  32. "General Purpose Police Dogs join the Force". Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services (Press release). Archived from the original on 17 March 2011.
  33. "Mitchell Street Mile". Facebook. Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services. 21 September 2014.
  34. "A-TACS - Commercial camouflage patterns". Camopedia. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  35. "New NT Police uniform". The Drum - The Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service eMagazine. Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service. 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013.
  36. O'Sullivan, James; The Consultancy Bureau (July 2003). An Assessment of Resource Requirements of the Northern Territory Police (PDF). Northern Territory Government. pp. 188, 192, 223. OCLC 223789650. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2005.
  37. O'Sullivan & The Consultancy Bureau 2003, pp. 188, 223.
  38. The Consultancy Bureau (December 2012). A Review of Northern Territory Police Resource Allocation Efficiency and Operation Capabilities. Brisbane. Appendix 2, page 15. OCLC 951496429. Retrieved 18 August 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  39. Hunt, Hayden (March 2018). "Policing 'family' rally around Territory Officer battling cancer" (PDF). Northern Territory Police News. Northern Territory Police Association: 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2021.
  40. Aikman, Amos (23 February 2022). "Walker 'kept resisting after third shot'". The Australian. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  41. Hope, Zach (23 April 2022). "Cold justice: The tragedy at Yuendumu". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  42. Matthews, Sarah (12 March 2022). "Wounds run deep as a community comes to terms with tragedy". Katherine Times. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  43. Gibson, Jano (23 February 2022). "Zachary Rolfe murder trial hears evidence from fellow officer involved in Kumanjayi Walker's fatal arrest". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  44. 2000-2001 Annual Report, Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services (PDF). Darwin: Northern Territory Government. September 2001. p. 60. OCLC 705262905. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2005.
  45. Shorten, Kristin (11 March 2022). "'I got ya, brother': how the Zach Rolfe shooting went down". The Australian. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  46. Mackay, Melissa (19 October 2022). "Sergeant of police team deployed to Yuendumu, used 'filthy, racist terms' in 2019, Kumanjayi Walker inquest hears". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 April 2023.

See also
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